The EU-India Trade and Technology Council

Date & Time: 28 May 2025 | 02:00 PM–03:30 PM IST (10:30 AM–12:00 PM CEST)

As the European Union (EU) and India prepare for a summit later this year, their strategic partnership is gaining renewed momentum amid shifting global dynamics. From digital transformation and resilient supply chains to climate action and multilateral engagement, both sides are working to strengthen ties through structured dialogue, institutional mechanisms, and forward-looking initiatives that reflect their shared interests and global ambitions.

Against this backdrop, the Council for Strategic and Defense Research (CSDR) and the Heinrich Böll Stiftung New Delhi Office are launching a series of policy briefs and webinars focused on critical issues shaping the EU-India relationship.

This inaugural session will feature a presentation and discussion of the forthcoming brief “Unlocking Potential: The EU-India Trade and Technology Council”, jointly authored by Prof. Rajat Kathuria (Shiv Nadar University) and Dr. Amaia Sanchez (Institut Montaigne). The conversation – including reflections by Dr. Stephan Hesselmann (German Embassy, New Delhi) in his role as discussant – will assess the trajectory of the TTC, identify key opportunities and constraints, and reflect on how strategic dialogue can be transformed into more tangible outcomes.

This webinar is part of The Indian Foreign Policy Series: People, Power and Perspectives

Moderator

Dr. Karthik Nachiappan

Research Fellow, Institute of South Asian Studies · National University of Singapore

Karthik Nachiappan is a Research Fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore. His research focuses on India’s Geoeconomics, how issues like trade, technology, and climate change affect Indian foreign policy. He is the author of Does India Negotiate? (Oxford University Press, 2020).

Panellists

Dr. Amaia Sanchez-Cacicedo

Senior Fellow - Asia, India · Institut Montaigne

Amaia Sánchez-Cacicedo is a Non-Resident Senior Fellow with the Asia Program at Institut Montaigne and Academic Co-ordinator at the Global Policy Center, IE University, Madrid. Previously a Non-Resident Associate Analyst at EUISS, she focused on South Asian security, geo-economics, and EU relations with emerging powers. A Georgetown graduate with a PhD from SOAS, University of London, her work includes the book Building States, Building Peace (2014). She has taught international relations and security at IE University, SOAS, and the University of Zurich, and has also worked with UNHCR in Costa Rica, Kenya, and Sri Lanka

Dr. Rajat Kathuria

Dean, School of Humanities and Social Sciences | Professor, Economics · Shiv Nadar University

Rajat Kathuria is the Dean, School of Social Sciences and Humanities at the Shiv Nadar University. He is also Senior Visiting Professor, Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), New Delhi where he has also served as Director and Chief Executive from 2012 – 2021. He has over 20 years experience in teaching and 25 years experience in economic policy, besides research interests on a range of issues relating to regulation and competition policy. He has worked with the World Bank, Washington DC as a Consultant and carried out research assignments for a number of international organizations, including ILO, UNCTAD, LirneAsia, World Bank and ADB. 

Dr. Stephan Hesselmann

Economic Minister Counsellor - Economic and Global Affairs · German Embassy, New Delhi

Dr. Hesselmann holds a PhD degree in Economics from the University of Bonn, Germany. He has worked at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, heading divisions in the Ministry´s Industry Department and as senior adviser in the Economics and Energy Committee as well as the Finance Committee of the German National Parliament.