EU-India trade talks seen boosting long-term investor confidence: EIB official

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has expressed strong confidence in India’s long-term growth story, saying ongoing trade talks with the European Union and New Delhi’s push for deeper economic partnerships are signs of steady progress, reported TOI.

“Despite the current geopolitical uncertainties in South Asia, India stands out as a country of remarkable resilience and opportunity,” said Nicola Beer, vice president of the EIB, during her visit to India. She called for faster approvals and a level-playing field for global investors to help unlock greater investment flows.

Beer’s visit coincided with a string of new EIB-backed projects -- from upgrading water infrastructure in Uttarakhand to supporting metro systems in Nagpur and Pune, and expanding participation in the India Energy Transition Fund.

“For EIB, which has committed over 5.6 billion euro to India in the last 20 years with more than 90% dedicated to climate action, this means India remains a highly attractive destination for investment, particularly in sectors that align with both India’s and Europe’s priorities,” she said.

The EIB, one of the world’s largest multilateral banks, has made India its biggest partner in urban mobility projects outside the EU. So far, it has signed loans worth 3.6 billion euro for metro networks in cities such as Agra, Bengaluru, Pune, Nagpur, Lucknow, Bhopal and Kanpur. “Sustainable transport is leading EIB investment in India,” Beer said.

Energy transition is another major focus area. “Energy transition is another key area, especially renewables, energy efficiency, and grid infrastructure,” she said. “These sectors not only address India’s development needs but also create opportunities for technology and investment flows between India and the EU.”

Highlighting the EIB’s commitment to green financing, Beer pointed to a $60 million contribution to the India Energy Transition Fund, managed by EAAA Alternatives. The fund aims to support greenfield infrastructure and growth-stage firms through equity and “last mile” financing.

“The fund is expected to mobilise significant additional private capital, including from leading European institutional investors, and to foster innovation in areas like battery storage and circular economy,” Beer said.

While Beer noted the growing strength of India-EU cooperation, she also underlined that certain regulatory and procedural barriers continue to hold back greater European investment.

With inputs from TOI