New Delhi, June 5 -- India expects all the nine free trade agreements (FTA) which were signed over the past three years to become operational within the next 9-10 months, commerce minister Piyush Goyal said Thursday, signalling an accelerated push to expand export markets, attract investment and integrate the country into global supply chains. Addressing the Citi India Conference 2026 virtually, the minister said India had signed nine FTAs over the last three to three-and-a-half years. These are the trade pacts with the UAE, Australia, Mauritius, Oman, the UK and the four-member European Free Trade Association (Efta) bloc comprising Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. The minister said that the Oman FTA had become operational on 1 June and that two to three more "substantive" trade agreements are expected to come into effect in the next six months. Goyal said these agreements complement India's growth strategy by expanding market access, facilitating trade, enabling movement of talent and attracting investments, including through the establishment of global capability centres (GCCs) in the country. Referring to his recent engagements with investors in Canada and the US, Goyal said his discussions with global pension funds, insurance companies and institutional investors reflected their strong confidence in India's economic prospects. He said investors increasingly view India as a trusted investment destination and a credible alternative manufacturing hub. The minister said India continues to be the world's fastest-growing major economy and remains well-positioned to sustain growth over the long term, aided by reforms, infrastructure development and technological advancement. He reiterated the Viksit Bharat vision, under which India aims to become a developed economy by 2047....