Bavaria’s conservative leader promotes Europe-India free trade zone

Markus Söder, the leader of Germany’s conservative Christian Social Union (CSU), said that he plans to campaign for the establishment of a free trade zone with Europe during an upcoming trip to India.

“Our major goal is to strengthen relations with India,” Söder said on Saturday before his departure in Munich.

The Bavaria-only CSU is allied with the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) of incoming chancellor Friedrich Merz. Söder said he had not only consulted with Merz ahead of his trip but also with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

“Our aim is not only to expand Bavarian contacts, but also to send a signal to the new federal government that will soon be formed: We want a joint free trade zone between Europe and India,” Söder added.

Söder’s trip, which begins on Saturday, will last several days and included political talks in New Delhi and a visit to the Bavarian partner province of Karnataka in the south-west of the country.

The regional capital, Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore), is often referred to as India’s Silicon Valley, renowned for its thriving high-tech industry and shopping scene.

Söder expressed confidence that Bavaria and Germany could benefit from the establishment of a free trade zone.

“In this world of customs chaos, we must send new signals in favour of joint free trade and the creation of joint free trade zones,” he said.

With India’s population of 1.4 billion, he called the country “a huge opportunity” for enhancing economic collaboration.