Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the free trade agreement between India and the European Union reflects the aspirations of a confident and ambitious India, and will play a key role in expanding markets and driving long-term economic growth. Speaking to reporters outside Parliament at the start of the Budget Session, he urged Indian manufacturers to take advantage of new opportunities created by the pact. PM Modi said India is steadily resolving long-pending challenges by focusing on long-term solutions rather than creating obstacles. Highlighting the India-EU FTA, the Prime Minister said it opens access to high-quality markets across all 27 EU member nations, offering Indian producers a major platform to expand their global footprint. India and the European Union earlier this week announced the conclusion of negotiations on the long-awaited trade pact, often described as the “mother of all deals”.