India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have reviewed the next steps for their proposed free trade agreement (FTA), as both sides look to deepen trade and investment ties. Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Vipul held talks with GCC Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi in Riyadh on Sunday.

The meeting focused on strengthening relations between India and the six-member Gulf bloc. The two sides also discussed regional and international developments. They reviewed preparations for a ministerial meeting scheduled for next month, according to a statement issued by the GCC Secretariat.

The discussions come at an important stage in India-GCC trade negotiations. India and the GCC resumed talks in February on a comprehensive trade agreement. The negotiations were later put on hold in June amid the West Asia crisis. The latest meeting indicates efforts to move the process forward and maintain high-level engagement between the two sides.

The GCC includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The bloc was established in 1981 as a political, economic and security grouping. It has since become an important economic partner for India, particularly in trade, energy, investment and employment.

India and the GCC also stressed the need for continued coordination and consultations on issues of common interest. The two sides said such cooperation would help support regional security and stability.

“Both discussed India-GCC cooperation, including FTA negotiations and strengthening high-level engagements. They also exchanged views on regional and global developments of mutual interest,” the Indian Embassy in Riyadh said in a post on X.

The GCC is India's largest trading partner bloc. Bilateral trade between India and the six GCC countries reached USD 178.56 billion in 2024-25. This accounted for 15.42 per cent of India's total global trade, according to official data. India's exports to the region stood at around USD 56.87 billion during the period. Imports from the GCC were valued at USD 121.68 billion.

India's major exports to the Gulf include engineering goods, rice, textiles, machinery, gems and jewellery. The country's imports from the region are largely made up of crude oil, liquefied natural gas, petrochemicals and gold. Energy remains a key part of India's economic relationship with the Gulf.

The GCC is also a major source of investment for India. Cumulative investments from the region crossed USD 31.14 billion as of September 2025. The Gulf is also an important source of remittances for India. Nearly 10 million members of the Indian community live across GCC countries, making the region significant for India's economic and people-to-people ties.

The current FTA negotiations follow earlier efforts by India and the GCC to establish a trade agreement. The two sides held negotiations in 2006 and 2008. The GCC later deferred discussions on free trade agreements with various countries and economic groupings.

A comprehensive trade agreement with the GCC could further expand market access and strengthen economic cooperation between India and the Gulf countries. It could also provide a wider framework for trade and investment between the two regions.

India has already strengthened its trade ties with individual GCC members through separate agreements and has a trade pact with the United Arab Emirates. India has also signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with Oman.

The latest talks between India and the GCC come as both sides seek to build on their strong economic relationship. With trade already at a high level and the Gulf remaining a key source of energy, investment and remittances, progress on the FTA could further strengthen India's ties with the region.