Berlin, Oct. 22 -- Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday expressed confidence that the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) would move rapidly towards signing and could become operational within the next four to five months, urging Indian and German businesses to begin preparations to maximise its benefits.

Addressing an India-Germany business roundtable here, Goyal said companies should start identifying potential customers and collaborators, exchanging product samples and quality requirements, and discussing pricing rather than wait for the agreement to come into force.

"This is the time we need to see businesses start probably doing sampling, exchanging notes of quality required, exchanging pricing,...