India and Bulgaria have called for the early implementation of the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday.

The push came during the India-Bulgaria Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi on October 1, co-chaired by MEA Secretary (West) Sibi George and Bulgaria’s Deputy Foreign Minister Christo Polendakov. Both sides said the pact would significantly boost economic and commercial engagement.

The two countries reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral relations, including cooperation in defence, artificial intelligence, trade, space, science and technology, and people-to-people ties.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X that both sides emphasised early implementation of the India-EU FTA, which would further strengthen economic ties. They also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.

The consultations follow External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s high-level talks with Bulgarian leaders, including Prime Minister Rumen Radev, in June. The India-EU FTA was concluded in January this year, and both sides are now working toward bringing it into force.