Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lauds EU-India FTA Report, receives copy from Advocate-CA Harsh Patel

Advocate & CA Harsh Patel presents EU-India FTA Report to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh

NEW DELHI, June 30 – In a significant development, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has commended the India-EU FTA Report titled “From Market Access to Strategic Economic Corridors,” which was presented to him by global trade strategist and Advocate-CA Harsh Girish Patel at his office here.

The meeting assumes significance as the report, authored by Patel’s firm Water & Shark, was first released at the European Parliament in Brussels earlier this year. The Defence Minister handed over a formal letter to Patel, expressing his appreciation for the initiative.

In his message dated June 26, 2026, the Minister wrote: “I am extremely pleased to learn that the India-EU Leader Conference 2026 is being organised at the European Parliament, Brussels, under the aegis of Water & Shark Advisor Pvt Ltd, and that the ‘India-EU FTA Report’ is also being published on this occasion. The institute’s efforts to strengthen cooperation, dialogue and mutual understanding between India and Europe are commendable. I extend my hearty congratulations to all the brothers associated with the institute and wish for its successful organisation.”

The meeting comes days after Patel presented the same report to Maharashtra’s Industries Minister Dr. Uday Samant at the Maharashtra MSME Summit & Awards 2026 in Navi Mumbai on June 27.

Patel, a dual-qualified CA and Advocate who was recently appointed to the Central Government’s Telecom Advisory Committee and elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in London, has been advocating for a paradigm shift in how India views its Free Trade Agreements.

“An FTA is not a tariff reduction – it is a civilisational partnership,” Patel has consistently maintained across forums in Brussels, London, the United Nations and now in India.

The report outlines a comprehensive “Three-Corridor Checklist” – Capital, Capability and Credential corridors – for Indian businesses to evaluate their global readiness and leverage the proposed India-EU Free Trade Agreement for long-term institutional presence rather than one-time transactions.

Patel’s firm, Water & Shark, operates across 12 countries and is launching dedicated “FTA Activation Desks” in the EU, UK and Gulf to handhold Indian businesses seeking to expand globally.

The Defence Minister’s endorsement is seen as a significant validation of the report’s strategic importance, particularly as India and the European Union continue to negotiate the long-pending Free Trade Agreement.

Patel expressed gratitude for the Minister’s message, stating that such encouragement from India’s top leadership reinforces the need for Indian professionals and businesses to position themselves as architects of global solutions rather than back-office providers.