Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, has proposed the establishment of a working group on tourism between India and Mediterranean nations, recognizing the immense potential for collaboration and mutual growth. Goyal emphasized India's large consumer market for Mediterranean goods and services, underpinned by the longstanding connection between the two regions. He pointed out the shared interests between India and Mediterranean countries, particularly in sectors such as shipping, shipbuilding, maritime operations, and the cruise industry. He further highlighted India's efforts in port development, having doubled port capacity over the last decade, with plans to further double it in the next five years.

Goyal expressed optimism about the partnership, noting that it could lead to shared economic prosperity and a more sustainable, secure, and inclusive future. He specifically mentioned the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) as a key initiative that could enhance maritime security and streamline goods transportation between Europe and Asia. Goyal stressed that reduced logistics costs, improved connectivity, and safer goods movement hinge on stronger cooperation between India and Mediterranean countries.

The minister also noted that India's efforts, such as the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme and the promotion of Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) through Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and economic partnerships, have fueled the country’s manufacturing growth. India is emerging as one of the fastest-growing global economies and is poised to become the third-largest economy in the near future. Goyal highlighted India’s focus on key sectors such as renewable energy, manufacturing, maritime and blue economy, digitization, pharmaceuticals, IT, agriculture, and tourism—offering significant opportunities for investors to tap into India's growth trajectory.