BERLIN — The European Union will be trying hard to land a prize that Britain is also aiming for post Brexit — a big free trade deal with India, German Chancellor Angela Merkel made clear on Tuesday.

Some analysts believe Brexit may make it easier for the EU to do such a deal as it will no longer have to take account of British concerns, such as those about granting visas to Indian workers and India's tariffs on Scotch whisky.

After hosting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, leader of the world’s fastest-growing major economy, for 24 hours, Merkel used a joint appearance in front of business representatives from both countries to stress that Germany was committed to reviving efforts to conclude a free trade agreement between the EU and India.

"It's important for us to proceed with the German-Indian — or rather, the EU-Indian — free trade agreement," Merkel, who didn't seem too bothered by her slip of the tongue, told a crowd of CEOs and government officials gathered in a hotel in central Berlin.

“Germany will make a massive effort in Brussels so that these negotiations get going again and perhaps proceed more quickly than was possible in the past,” she added.

Talks on a free-trade deal between the EU and India got under way a decade ago but hit the buffers after six years, amid disagreements over agriculture, generic drugs and the movement of workers.

German business pressure

Merkel's push to restart the process follows growing pressure from Germany's business lobby.

German companies are eager to tap deeper into the Indian market of 1.2 billion people but they say they need more stable conditions to secure investments.

“We clearly see the progress India has made," said Hubert Lienhard, chairman of the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business umbrella group. But, he added, "As always, more needs to be done.”

A comprehensive EU-India trade agreement could institute an investment protection framework to replace bilateral treaties.

A year and a half ago, Modi's government began to terminate several investment treaties with Germany and other EU countries, scrapping key protections for foreign investors. Among other things, some foreign companies can now no longer rely on courts of arbitration to settle disputes they have with the Indian government.

A comprehensive EU-India trade agreement could institute an investment protection framework to replace those bilateral treaties — which explains why, for many German companies, resuming the negotiations over a trade deal has become more urgent.

Brexit opportunity

Brexit could provide an opportunity to kickstart those talks, business and government officials agree privately.

Two important elements that stalled the negotiations four years ago were visa liberalization demanded by India for its professionals and the high tariffs the country has on foreign wines and spirits. In both cases, the U.K. played a key role — resisting change on visas and demanding lower tariffs on wines and spirits. Now the EU could be free to make more concessions.

"We're optimistic that Brexit will speed things up," said a lawyer consulting for companies on EU-India investment.

An ambitious trade agreement with India, slashing both tariffs and non-tariff barriers, would have the potential to more than double EU exports to the country within a decade, according to a study published this week by the German economic research group Ifo Institute. At the same time, imports from India to the EU would rise by 87 percent, the study estimated.

The study predicted a mixed impact from the fact that Britain would no longer be part of an India-EU free trade deal. It said the overall financial value of the deal would be lower and this "must be expected to weaken India’s interest in the undertaking." However, it also noted that some EU countries, including Germany, would see larger gains from a deal that did not include Britain.

Modi stressed on Tuesday that India was interested in foreign investment as well as trade.

“We have many dreams and the dreams are big," Modi said, raising the prospect of "building millions and millions of houses" and the "setting up of high-speed rail corridors."

"But we have a short timeline," he added. "And this is your opportunity.”

On investment too, Brexit will have an impact, business representatives believe.

So far, the U.K., partly due to its historical and linguistic ties, has been the biggest investment destination for Indian investors in the EU, giving Indian companies a gateway into the bloc's single market. But Germany could be in line for a slice of that business after Britain leaves the EU.

"Germany is [currently] the second-most attractive destination for Indian investment," said Shobana Kamineni, president of the Confederation of Indian Industry business association. "But that was before Brexit, and all that might change.”

Hans von der Burchard contributed reporting.