Ahmedabad, 27 April 2026: Water & Shark, in collaboration with the Europe India Centre for Business and Industry, hosted a high-level business and diplomatic dialogue on “The Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union: Strengthening EU-India Strategic and Economic Partnerships” at DoubleTree by Hilton, Ahmedabad.
The event placed Gujarat’s business ecosystem at the centre of a timely conversation on India’s growing engagement with Europe. It brought together diplomatic representatives, entrepreneurs, professional services stakeholders, industry voices and policy-linked participants to examine how the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union can create a useful entry point for deeper India-EU engagement.
Gujarat’s relevance to this discussion is significant. The state has a long-standing export orientation, a strong entrepreneurial culture and a business community that has historically engaged with global markets. As Europe becomes a more structured and compliance-driven market, the next phase of Gujarat’s international growth will require businesses to understand regulatory frameworks, taxation structures, investment routes, governance norms and sector-specific opportunities.
The dialogue highlighted that Europe should not be seen only as a destination for exports. It is also a region where policy, standards and institutions shape commercial success. For Gujarat-based exporters, family-owned enterprises, investors and expanding companies, engagement with Europe now requires deeper planning and more informed structuring.
Speaking on the significance of the event, Harsh Patel, CEO, Water & Shark, said:
“For Gujarat’s businesses, Europe represents both opportunity and complexity. The businesses that will benefit most are those that understand not only market demand but also the regulatory, tax and institutional conditions that shape entry into Europe.”
“Water & Shark sees this as a moment for businesses to move from ambition to preparation. Expansion into Europe requires clarity on structure, compliance, governance and long-term commercial positioning.”
Water & Shark’s role in the event was closely aligned with this practical business need. The firm brought an advisory perspective on how Indian businesses can prepare for European expansion through stronger structuring, tax awareness, compliance planning, cross-border investment strategy and long-term business positioning. Rather than presenting Europe as a simple opportunity, the discussion encouraged businesses to approach it as a sophisticated market that rewards preparation.
The collaboration with EICBI added further depth by connecting Gujarat’s business priorities with Europe-India institutional engagement. EICBI’s work in strengthening business and policy linkages between India and Europe helped frame the event as more than a commercial meeting. It became a platform for connecting enterprise with diplomacy and for translating high-level EU developments into practical awareness for Indian stakeholders.
Sujit Nair, Senior Partner at Water & Shark and Chairman of EICBI, said:
“Gujarat has always had a strong international business instinct. What is needed now is a deeper interface with Europe’s policy and institutional ecosystem.”
“This dialogue is important because it connects European diplomatic developments with the practical questions Indian businesses are asking: where to enter, how to structure and how to build sustainable partnerships.”
The event also had wider national relevance. India’s relationship with Europe is increasingly tied to trade diversification, technology partnerships, resilient supply chains, investment cooperation and strategic alignment. For the country, strengthening regional business ecosystems such as Gujarat’s is essential because national economic diplomacy ultimately depends on the ability of businesses to respond to international opportunities with clarity and preparation.
By bringing this conversation to Ahmedabad, Water & Shark and EICBI helped create a bridge between diplomatic momentum and business readiness. The dialogue underlined that Gujarat’s enterprises can play a meaningful role in the India-EU corridor if they approach Europe with the right knowledge, the right structures and the right long-term strategy.
