By Nantoo Banerjee One’s pain could be another’s gain. The phrase aptly describes those big business gainers across the world out of the three-and-a-half-year-old Russia-Ukraine war, killing thousands of soldiers and civilians on both sides. The list of such gainers may be short but very impressive. They include some of the giant US defence manufacturers […]Dubai is witnessing a sharp rise in gold-driven fortunes as long-established Indian entrepreneurs reshape its jewellery sector. Titan Company, known for its Tanishq brand, will acquire 67 per cent of Damas, a leading luxury jewellery retailer with some 146 outlets across the Gulf, for 1.04 billion dirhams, in a deal expected to close by 31 January 2026. This bold expansion markedly strengthens Titan’s foothold under its emerging […]
Northern Ireland stands to benefit significantly from growing economic and technological ties with India, as boosted trade, tariff relief, and joint research initiatives begin to materialise. A free-trade agreement between India and the United Kingdom promises a settlement that could deliver a multi-million-pound boost to Northern Ireland’s economy, particularly in advanced engineering, technology, and services. At the same time, enhanced academic and innovation partnerships are expanding the region’s opportunities.
Northern Ireland’s technology, services and manufacturing sectors are especially poised for growth under the new trade agreement, which includes substantial tariff reductions and near-elimination on key exports such as medical devices and engineering goods. Analysis shows that the deal is expected to generate around £50 million in economic benefit for the province. The agreement also unlocks access to India’s growing services market, opening new pathways for Northern Irish firms to scale internationally and enhance competitiveness.
Simultaneously, India and the UK have elevated their broader strategic engagement, having signed the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement on 24 July 2025. This landmark deal opened India’s government procurement market—worth £38 billion annually—to UK businesses for the first time, offering additional opportunities for Northern Ireland firms in technology, infrastructure and innovation services sectors. Negotiations had culminated in May 2025, after extensive rounds that resolved issues including visas, whisky, automobiles and pharmaceuticals.
Beyond trade, there is growing momentum in research collaboration. Imperial College London has launched a global science hub in Bengaluru, aiming to deepen its research alliances across AI, climate resilience, food security and antimicrobial resistance. Such initiatives highlight the intensifying India–UK scientific partnership, which Northern Ireland research institutions could tap into—particularly given the province’s established strengths in digital innovation and software engineering, with major global tech firms like Microsoft, Nvidia and SAP already present.
The launch of a joint India–Ireland Joint Economic Commission, as agreed by Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Irish counterparts, further sets the stage for elevated economic and tech engagement involving Northern Ireland. The commission aims to enhance trade, investment and technology linkages; discussions have also included cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, fintech, semiconductors and higher education cooperation. Moreover, a new Indian consulate in Belfast reflects deepening diplomatic and commercial engagement with the region.
Northern Ireland benefits not only economically but also in innovation ecosystems. The UK–India Technology and Security Initiative, launched in July 2024, emphasises strategic collaboration across seven core areas including semiconductors, AI, quantum, biotech and advanced materials. The initiative is being overseen and reviewed by senior officials from both nations, reinforcing a structured framework for bilateral tech partnerships and supply-chain resilience; Northern Irish tech organisations with capabilities in cybersecurity, data analytics and smart infrastructure are well-positioned to participate.
These developments dovetail with the broader UK-wide free-trade agenda and strategic dialogues. India is the United Kingdom’s fastest-growing trade partner, with goods trade up to £17.8 billion in 2024 and services trade exceeding £24 billion—both substantial increases from pre-pandemic levels. Yet, awareness among UK firms, including in Northern Ireland, remains low, with only a small fraction actively exporting to India, despite high willingness among Indian consumers to pay premiums for UK products. Areas such as advanced engineering, manufacturing, and innovation services remain ripe for expansion.
Northern Ireland’s existing attributes further reinforce its readiness. The region hosts a cluster of world-class tech operations, supported by local firms such as Kainos and FD Technologies, and connectivity to universities and innovation centres. Access to India’s large and diverse markets—combined with policy support under the free-trade agreement—sets the scene for emerging partnerships in fintech, med-tech, smart infrastructure, and green technologies.
Finally, though not specific to Northern Ireland, institutions such as the UK India Business Council provide advisory networks and policy advocacy that can help local businesses navigate market entry, regulatory frameworks, and collaboration models with Indian partners across sectors including digital innovation, life sciences and advanced manufacturing.
By Nitya Chakraborty After successfully passing the test of strategic autonomy for India at the just concluded summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) at Tianjin in China on August 31 and September 1, Prime Minister Narendra Modi faces another test on Monday September 8 at the virtual meeting of the BRICS nations convened by […]
A succinct pledge to resolve their border differences and reinvigorate cooperation was exchanged between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a summit in Tianjin. The meeting, marking Modi’s first visit to China since the border clashes of 2020, signals a strategic effort to steady bilateral ties ahead of the meeting of regional leaders.
At the outset, Modi acknowledged that disengagement along the Line of Actual Control has created a peaceful environment, underlining that tranquility along the border is essential for bilateral development. He emphasised that relations have moved in “a meaningful direction” and stressed that both countries should pursue strategic autonomy without being viewed through the lens of a third country. Xi mirrored that sentiment, contending that border issues should not define China‑India relations. He urged a focus on economic growth and expressed a hope that their meeting would “further elevate” bilateral relations to a stable trajectory.
This diplomatic retreat from escalating tensions emerges amid broader geopolitical recalibrations. The summit, bringing together more than 20 non‑Western leaders, offered a stage for Xi to advocate a new global order more favourable to the Global South, challenging Western dominance. He proposed the creation of a SCO development bank, new financial mechanisms to reduce dependence on the US dollar, AI cooperation, and a lunar research partnership.
For his part, Putin welcomed the revival of “genuine multilateralism” through the SCO framework and lauded efforts toward building alternative Eurasian security structures. The visual solidarity among the three —occasionally dubbed the “anti‑Western bloc”— underscores their shared interest in countering US influence and economic pressure, including US‑imposed tariffs on India.
India’s engagement at Tianjin reflects a broader wave of diplomatic stepping stones: direct flights have resumed, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has been revived, and Indian pilgrims are again welcome in Tibet. These developments follow mutual agreements on border patrolling mechanisms and a gradual easing of visa and tourism restrictions.
While the tone between Xi and Modi was markedly conciliatory, analysts caution that underlying issues persist. The legacy of the 2020 deadly Galwan clash remains a psychological and strategic fault line. Mistrust endures, and there is no immediate indication of a comprehensive border settlement or legally binding roadmap toward de‑escalation.
The SCO’s Tianjin gathering is the largest of its kind in the organisation’s history, with Xi presiding and an array of Eurasian leaders in attendance. The event signifies a collective push toward regional cooperation and institutional alternatives to Western‑led institutions.
A colossal leap in infrastructure development is underway as OpenAI pursues the establishment of a data centre in India with a striking capacity of at least one gigawatt. The project, integral to its Stargate initiative, ushers in a new era of AI infrastructure expansion across Asia.
OpenAI is actively exploring partnerships with Indian firms to bring this gigawatt-scale facility to life, though the precise location and timeline remain unspecified. The effort aligns with its Stargate programme—an expansive, multibillion-dollar venture in collaboration with SoftBank, Oracle and MGX to develop next-generation AI infrastructure.
The planned facility stands among the largest of its kind in the region and may be formally introduced by OpenAI’s chief executive, Sam Altman, during his anticipated visit to India in September. OpenAI has already gained legal footing by registering as an entity in India and is gearing up to open its first office in New Delhi later in the year, reflecting the nation’s importance as the company’s second-largest market by user base.
Financial implications of such mega‑scale AI infrastructure are enormous. According to Jensen Huang, chief executive of Nvidia, constructing a singular gigawatt-class facility could cost around $50 billion—$35 billion directed towards Nvidia’s hardware and $15 billion for supplementary systems. OpenAI’s ambitions also include similar “AI super‑factories” in Abu Dhabi and across the United States, all under the banner of Stargate.
This enormous investment is forecast to have ripple effects across the global AI ecosystem. With Stargate estimated at up to $500 billion, it underscores OpenAI’s strategic ambition to lead in AI infrastructure and the mounting demand for AI-optimised processing capabilities. Nvidia, for example, projects AI infrastructure spending could soar to the $3‑4 trillion mark annually by 2030, bolstered by commitments like those under Stargate.
Locally, establishing such a facility in India can offer tangible advantages. A dedicated data centre promises to reduce latency for Indian users while satisfying regulatory demands for local data storage, a critical consideration for enterprise clients and government services. The endeavour complements OpenAI’s earlier move to enable local data residency for services such as ChatGPT Enterprise and its API offerings, aligning with India’s regulatory framework.
India’s data centre ecosystem is expanding rapidly. From an installed capacity of approximately 950 megawatts in 2024, projections currently estimate that figure to nearly double—approaching 2 gigawatts by 2026. However, even with such growth, the nation still accounts for just a fraction of global data centre capacity despite generating a significant portion of worldwide data streams. The arrival of a gigawatt-scale project like OpenAI’s would mark a profound increase in both capacity and technological capability.
Environmental sustainability and energy demands also emerge as critical considerations. Hyperscale data infrastructure requires vast power and cooling resources, raising pressing questions about energy sourcing, water usage, and ecological impact—matters India is progressively addressing through green data centre policies and incentives.
OpenAI’s move echoes broader trends among global tech giants expanding their Indian footprints. For instance, Reliance Industries is planning a three‑gigawatt data centre in Jamnagar; Microsoft, Amazon, and Google are investing heavily in cloud infrastructure; and India’s government continues to support initiatives through Digital India and localisation mandates.
Novacore Innovations, based in Mumbai, has launched India’s inaugural GPU cloud platform built around NVIDIA’s Blackwell‑based B200 servers. The platform, powered by a ₹44.6 crore line of credit led by Rashi Fincorp with backing from U. S. and Abu Dhabi investors, is being deployed in Hyderabad to serve startups, researchers and enterprises across India, the U. S. and the Middle East.
This GPU‑as‑a‑service offering centres on the NVIDIA B200, an iteration of the Blackwell architecture that boasts up to 2.3× higher peak performance and double the real‑world AI speed over its predecessors. It is equipped with 192 GB of HBM3e memory, 8 TB/s bandwidth, fifth‑generation tensor cores and dual transformer engines, which collectively accelerate training by up to 3× and inference throughput by as much as 15×, while enhancing energy efficiency up to 25×.
Novacore’s co‑founders, Ranbir Badwal and Aryamaan Singhania, credit India’s low energy costs, technical workforce and Hyderabad’s robust data‑centre ecosystem for enabling this development. They emphasise that the platform offers lower hosting costs, rapid provisioning, and scalable compute for generative AI, large language models, scientific computing and real‑time analytics.
As an incentive to foster uptake, Novacore is offering trial access to qualifying startups and research labs across its target markets.
The platform also aligns with wider developments in India’s AI infrastructure. NVIDIA is collaborating with major domestic firms such as Reliance and Tata to expand locally hosted AI data‑centre capabilities powered by renewable energy, supporting India’s sustainability and net‑zero objectives. Meanwhile, the domestic AI‑as‑a‑service market is forecast to expand at a compound annual growth rate of roughly 26.4 percent, reaching an estimated $31.94 billion by 2031.
The launch of this platform by Novacore marks a significant enhancement in India’s ability to support advanced, high‑performance AI workloads locally. Transactions such as a similar move by CoreWeave in North America—deploying Blackwell Ultra GPUs commercially in July 2025—highlight a global push toward increasingly capable and efficient AI infrastructure.
Bilateral non-oil trade between the UAE and India surged past US $37.6 billion in the first half of 2025, marking a 33.9 per cent increase compared with the same period in the previous year. The UAE’s Foreign Trade Minister, Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, highlighted during his Mumbai visit the pivotal role of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement in propelling this growth. Discussions focused on expanding cooperation across pharmaceuticals, food and logistics, alongside Bharat Mart, a 2.7 million sq ft trade complex in Jebel Ali Free Zone designed for Indian exporters to reach markets across the Middle East, Africa and Europe.
Trade figures underscore that CEPA has significantly deepened economic ties. In 2024, non-oil trade between the two nations topped US $65 billion, reflecting a 19.7 per cent increase from 2023 and more than doubling the 2020 tally of US $27.9 billion. UAE investments in India reached around US $17 billion by late 2023, while Indian investments in the UAE climbed to approximately US $8 billion—total mutual investment topping US $25 billion, with the UAE accounting for 70 per cent of that figure.
This dynamic was further backed by the UAE-India CEPA Council’s Start-up Series, which has drawn more than 10,000 applications from Indian entrepreneurs since its launch in June 2025. The initiative, showcased in New Delhi by Ahmed Aljneibi, has made stops at leading institutions including Banaras Hindu University and the Master’s Union School of Business, offering mentorship, regulatory guidance and pathways for cross-border scale-up.
The strategic focus on innovation also extends beyond startups. Sheraa, Sharjah’s entrepreneurship centre, and Startup Middle East signed a memorandum to establish an India Startup Hub in Sharjah, aimed at facilitating the entry of Indian ventures into the UAE market and strengthening regional innovation ecosystems.
Policy measures in the UAE are evolving to match this economic outreach. Amendments to more than 40 laws, most notably the Commercial Companies Law enabling 100 per cent foreign ownership, are part of a broader strategy to double the non-oil economy—from US $381 billion to US $762 billion—by 2030. Foreign trade is viewed as central to achieving that ambition, with the UAE’s connectivity, infrastructure and logistics network seen as vital assets for Indian businesses seeking wider regional access.
CEPA’s architecture underscores its comprehensive approach: since its implementation in May 2022, tariffs on more than 80 per cent of Indian exports to the UAE have been reduced or eliminated immediately, benefiting sectors from gems and jewellery to pharmaceuticals and automobiles. Additional gains accrue from streamlined customs protocols, regulatory harmonisation and a joint committee addressing market-access and technical barriers.
Experts point to CEPA as transformative for both economies. Indian gems and jewellery exports more than doubled from US $4.9 billion to US $8 billion in fiscal year 2024, aided by duty removals. Labour-intensive industries such as textiles, leather, footwear, sports goods, plastics, furniture, engineering goods, agricultural produce and food items have also gained momentum, while regulatory alignment has accelerated entry of generic drugs and medical devices, boosting health-sector cooperation and supply-chain resilience.
Further integration is visible in emerging fintech and logistics initiatives. Bharat Mart reinforces logistical synergy, while the nascent Virtual Trade Corridor, fintech sandboxes and experiments such as India’s MagRail pilot demonstrate growing interoperability in digital trade and compliance systems.
At the political level, the CEPA enters its third year this February. Al Zeyoudi noted that India remains the UAE’s second-largest non-oil export destination, accounting for 13.5 per cent of total non-oil exports in 2024—a 75.2 per cent rise year-on-year. Conversely, the UAE is India’s third-largest trading partner and a major investor, illustrating the strategic depth CEPA has added to bilateral ties.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said today that a free‑trade agreement with Oman will be finalised soon, while Qatar has expressed interest in negotiating a similar pact. Concurrently, he confirmed that negotiations with the European Union are gathering pace.
Speaking at a New Delhi event, Goyal assured exporters of government support to navigate global trade uncertainties—particularly those triggered by unilateral policies of other nations. He emphasised ongoing consultations with stakeholders, including Indian diplomatic missions, aimed at diversifying export markets and strengthening domestic consumption through Goods and Services Tax reforms. Goyal asserted that exports this year are poised to exceed last year’s levels.
Progress on the Oman front appears particularly advanced. Goyal characterised the India–Oman free‑trade agreement as “almost finalised,” suggesting that formal conclusion is within reach.
At the same time, Goyal reiterated that Qatar, along with Saudi Arabia, is keen on forging trade agreements with India, signalling growing interest from Gulf cooperation partners. Notably, India and Qatar had earlier set a goal to double bilateral trade to US$28 billion over five years—a vision reinforced by renewed discussions of a free‑trade pact.
Meanwhile, Europe remains a focal point. Goyal referenced rapid progress in FTA talks with the EU, and earlier this year had projected that negotiations could be concluded before the end of 2025. He expressed confidence that both sides may even exceed expectations and wrap up the deal ahead of schedule. The European Commissioner for Trade, Maroš Šefčovič, is expected in New Delhi in September to oversee the conclusion of the 13th round of discussions, which are likely to address remaining sticking points.
Goyal portrayed this as part of a broader, much‑intensified trade diplomacy, describing India’s approach as negotiations “from morning till evening” with multiple partners including the US, Chile, Peru, and others. He emphasised that each agreement will be grounded in national interest and industrial benefit, stressing that India will uphold its self‑respect and not compromise in negotiations—even as global trade tensions evolve.
These developments unfold against a backdrop of mounting trade headwinds. India’s share in global trade remains relatively modest, at around 2 percent, while nearly 40 percent of its exports to the US remain outside the scope of the newly imposed 50 percent tariffs—muting some of the trade impact.
India’s trade strategy appears to be one of diversification and resilience, deepening ties across regions—from the Gulf to Europe to the Americas. With multiple free-trade agendas advancing simultaneously, key pivots such as the Oman deal, Gulf engagement, and an EU agreement could reshape economic dynamics in the coming months.
Efforts to standardise digital experiences across government platforms are gaining traction through the UX4G initiative. Run by the National e‑Governance Division under the Ministry of Electronics & IT, UX4G provides a unified design framework, making websites and apps more consistent, accessible and intuitive for users across all states and central departments.
The initiative offers a comprehensive design system that includes ready‑to‑use Figma kits, a pattern library, code components and visual tokens like typography, colour palettes and layout grids. This toolkit expedites development, cuts redundant work and ensures uniformity in user experience across the digital government landscape. Modular elements such as atoms, molecules and organisms facilitate scalable interface building, promoting efficiency for both designers and developers.
Central to UX4G’s mission is accessibility. The framework integrates tools like text resizing, colour inversion, dyslexia‑friendly fonts, dark‑ and light‑modes, and other assistive widgets. These are vital for inclusive interaction, especially for users with disabilities, aligning with the Government of India’s Guidelines for Indian Government Websites. GIGW calls for WCAG‑compliant standards, and UX4G reinforces this by embedding accessibility into every layer of design.
UX4G also promotes continuous improvement through tools like the UX Health Self‑Check and Audit 360, which provide structured self‑assessment and automated audits against user experience benchmarks. These tools help departments maintain usability and accessibility standards through various stages of design and deployment.
Workshops and capacity building form a cornerstone of the initiative. More than 50 awareness and sensitisation workshops have been conducted across states and central departments, with thousands of participants trained in UX principles, design systems, audit methods and accessibility practices. Significant sessions took place in states such as Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Telangana and Delhi during mid-2025.
Government services including UMANG, DigiLocker, DIKSHA, API Setu and Poshan Tracker have served as pilot platforms and case studies for UX4G’s implementation. These platforms showcase smoother navigation, interface consistency and improved usability—demonstrating the initiative’s capacity to reshape citizen‑government interactions.
Origins of the initiative trace back to 2021 under the Digital India programme, launched to replace fragmented digital designs across departments. UX4G addresses long‑standing inconsistencies in interface design and poor mobile responsiveness by providing a shared foundation that accelerates service rollout and enhances user satisfaction.
Version 1 of the design system was released in June 2023, following a development timeline that began in late 2022 and continued through mid‑2023. Throughout this period designers and developers participated in usability testing and iterative improvements, validating components and documentation to enhance effectiveness and ease of adoption.
By T N Ashok NEW YORK: Trump’s 50% tariffs on Indian exports took effect from Wednesday as there has been no resolution to the dispute over Russian oil buys in by India. In a move that has stunned global markets and rattled one of America’s most strategically important partnerships, President Donald Trump on Wednesday imposed […]ADNOC has sealed a 15‑year Sales and Purchase Agreement with Indian Oil Corporation Ltd for the annual supply of 1 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas, marking a definitive move from the previous memorandum. The cargoes will be eligible for delivery to any port across India, reinforcing ADNOC’s position as a dependable supplier to meet India’s expanding energy needs and energy security demands. ADNOC’s Ruwais LNG project, […]
Major players and startups are racing to establish dominance in India’s quick‑commerce landscape, where urban consumers now expect deliveries within minutes. Blinkit, Zepto, Instamart, Amazon Now, BigBasket Now and others are expanding rapidly, focusing both on speed and diversification beyond groceries, even as questions mount over sustainability.
Blinkit, the q‑commerce arm of Eternal, delivered a sharp uplift in adjusted revenue for the first quarter of 2025, reaching ₹71.67 billion—a year‑on‑year increase of more than 70 per cent. However, soaring expenses, largely driven by aggressive discounting and the rapid build‑out of “dark stores,” pulled net profit down by nearly 90 per cent to ₹250 million. Blinkit continues to lead in the segment, delivering groceries and essentials within 10 minutes across more than 30 cities.
Zepto, founded in 2021 by Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra, has built a dense network of dark stores across ten metropolitan areas and operates over 250 stores as of 2024. Its valuation has surged past $5 billion, underpinned by a leap in FY24 revenue to ₹4,454 crore.
Swiggy’s Instamart continues recalibrating its business, shifting from its origins in restaurant delivery to prioritising ultra-fast delivery of grocery and everyday items in a broader consumer market.
Global giants are also aggressively entering the fray. Amazon’s “Now” 10‑minute delivery service, first piloted in Bengaluru, has now rolled out across select New Delhi pin codes. Flipkart, backed by Walmart, has likewise deployed its rapid‑delivery offering in the country. Competition has intensified, with both global and domestic players vying to own consumer mindshare.
Market projections suggest explosive growth: quick‑commerce has scaled from about $300 million in 2022 to $7.1 billion in 2025, with forecasts projecting a staggering $40 billion by 2030. Growth is being fuelled not only by metro usage, but also by demand in tier‑2 and tier‑3 cities, which have accounted for 60 per cent of new e‑retail customers since 2020.
To support this infrastructure leap, commercial property heights are shifting downwards—hyperlocal warehousing is surging in both major metros and smaller cities. Platforms are converting underused urban spaces—like basements and small plots—into rapid fulfilment hubs to meet expectations of 10‑ to 15‑minute deliveries.
Still, financial caution flags are being raised. Gopal Srinivasan, chairman of TVS Capital Funds, has warned that India’s quick‑commerce boom may be a “passing fad,” sustained mainly by private equity and venture capital rather than sustainable economics. Industry observers point to sharp increases in customer acquisition costs, shrinking margins, and low consumer loyalty if discounts and free delivery models are scaled back.
The origins of the model lie in a consumer demand for ultra‑fast replenishment, transforming smartphones into virtual marketplaces not just for staples, but festive goods, personal care items, apparel and electronics—especially during cultural festivals like Raksha Bandhan.
A financial corridor is emerging beneath the digital storefronts: hyperlocal logistics operators such as Xpressbees, already present in over 4,500 service centres and 250 hubs by March 2025, are becoming critical partners to power the last‑mile challenge.
Traditional players are also adapting. BigBasket, owned by Tata Digital, has introduced a 10‑minute food delivery service in Bengaluru, including offerings from Tata Starbucks and IHCL’s Qmin platform.
A surge in U. S. import duties has swiftly altered the economic landscape, with substantive implications for oil markets, trade dynamics and strategic alliances. U. S. President Donald Trump has enacted additional tariffs of up to 50 percent on imports from India in response to New Delhi’s continued purchases of discounted Russian crude. The escalation, applied in two stages and bringing tariffs from 25 percent to 50 percent, took effect on Wednesday, disrupting both markets and diplomatic ties.
Oil prices slipped as traders absorbed the news, with crude extending its decline as markets weighed the ripple effects of the heightened tariffs. The move is expected to erode India’s export earnings while simultaneously undermining the financial benefit of cheaper Russian oil.
Analysts calculate that India has saved around $17 billion by ramping up imports of Russian crude since early 2022. Now, with the tariffs in place, export revenues could shrink by more than $37 billion this fiscal year—nearly halving the gains previously made in energy procurement. The most vulnerable sectors include labour-intensive industries such as textiles, gems, jewellery, seafood and organic chemicals, where job losses may be significant.
New Delhi has resisted external pressure to cease its oil trade with Russia, citing national interest and energy security. Refiners and government officials have indicated that the message from the centre is clear: strategic autonomy takes precedence over commercial coercion. At the same time, discussions are in progress through virtual channels, encompassing trade, energy and critical mineral collaboration.
The tariffs are not only triggering economic recalibration but also intensify diplomatic friction. Experts warn this could become the most serious crisis in U. S.–India relations in decades. The uneven application—targeting India while China remains largely exempt—has heightened perceptions of hypocrisy and could push India closer to alternative partners such as Russia or China.
Domestic responses are underway. Authorities are exploring measures to cushion the blow, such as reducing tax burdens, providing credit support to exporters, and diversifying trade destinations towards Latin America, Africa, Southeast Asia and the EU. On the U. S. side, certain sectors—including pharmaceuticals and electronics—remain exempt from the higher tariffs, partly shielding U. S. companies such as Apple which have investments in Indian manufacturing.
Currency markets and investor sentiment reacted sharply, with Indian stock indices tumbling as concerns mounted over export disruption and broader economic repercussions.
Snowflake, the leading cloud data platform, has inaugurated a new office at The Square, Vittal Mallya Road in Bengaluru, further solidifying its presence in one of India’s largest technology hubs. The move follows the company’s expansion into Mumbai earlier, reflecting its commitment to establishing a robust footprint in the country.
The new Bengaluru office aims to be a hub for innovation, with a focus on data and artificial intelligence. Snowflake intends to foster collaboration between local and global teams to leverage the rapidly growing talent pool in the region. The company is not only seeking to tap into India’s burgeoning tech ecosystem but also to cultivate a work environment where data professionals and engineers can develop solutions that drive both local and global customer impact.
Bengaluru, known as India’s Silicon Valley, is home to a vast number of technology firms, startups, and innovation centres. As one of the leading tech cities globally, it offers an abundance of skilled professionals and a vibrant startup ecosystem. Snowflake’s decision to expand in Bengaluru underscores its confidence in the Indian market and the country’s crucial role in its global growth strategy.
The new office will serve as a centre of excellence, enabling Snowflake to provide tailored data solutions to clients across various sectors, including finance, retail, healthcare, and technology. It will also act as a research and development hub, working closely with Snowflake’s global teams to accelerate the delivery of cutting-edge products and services. This move aligns with Snowflake’s broader strategy of capitalising on AI, machine learning, and advanced data analytics to deliver transformative results for businesses around the world.
Snowflake’s expansion is a part of a broader trend where global tech giants are increasingly looking towards India as a critical location for their growth and innovation. India’s talent pool, particularly in software development, data science, and AI, continues to be one of the main driving forces for international firms seeking to innovate and build scalable solutions. The Bengaluru office will further enhance Snowflake’s ability to tap into this wealth of expertise and cater to the growing demand for advanced data solutions in the region.
The company’s expansion is also expected to create significant job opportunities, not just in data engineering and analytics but across various domains, from sales and marketing to customer support. By strengthening its local presence, Snowflake plans to build stronger relationships with its clients and partners in the region, which will be essential as it looks to further integrate itself into the local tech ecosystem.
In addition to providing innovative solutions for businesses, Snowflake’s new office will serve as a training ground for local talent. With a strong focus on learning and development, the company intends to upskill its employees and equip them with the necessary skills to tackle emerging data challenges. The office will also act as a key centre for Snowflake’s efforts in advancing data security and privacy, two areas that are increasingly top-of-mind for organisations operating in the cloud.
By Nantoo Banerjee Notwithstanding India’s current trade tariff spat with the United States, India should apply caution to further open up imports from China with which it already suffers from massive trade deficits – nearly $100 billion last year when China had severely cut down imports from India. The latter should also avoid the Chinese […]
By K Raveendran Indian epics tell us that aggression should never be turned against the weak is a lesson etched into the Mahabharata. Karna, remorseful after joining in the humiliation of Draupadi, admitted the shame of deploying power in the wrong direction. Draupadi in that moment represented not just women, but the principle of protecting […]:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Foreign_Direct_Investment_FDI-5bd6f3afef0f4454bb9cd091fd04116d.png)
Amazon has approached the Commerce Ministry with a proposal to modify foreign direct investment rules by creating a carve-out for export transactions. The company is requesting permission to purchase goods directly from Indian sellers for overseas sales, a departure from the longstanding policy that restricts foreign e-commerce firms to pure marketplace operations.
The policy currently prohibits platforms like Amazon and Walmart-owned Flipkart from holding inventory or selling directly to consumers, aiming to protect small retailers by ensuring a level playing field. Amazon’s pitch emphasises that an export exemption would benefit small Indian sellers by streamlining customs procedures and improving access to international markets. The company adds that it has facilitated US$13 billion in cumulative exporter earnings since 2015 and targets US$80 billion by 2030.
From the Commerce Ministry’s internal documents, it is clear that no decision has been made yet. Any policy adjustment must strictly safeguard the domestic retail market by clearly delineating goods intended solely for export from those that could be sold locally.
The move faces strong resistance. Three industry groups, representing small retailers, voiced concerns during the meeting that Amazon—and Flipkart, which also attended—would gain unfair advantages through preferential arrangements and heavy discounting, further marginalising small businesses.
Amazon and Flipkart did not offer comment at the time, and the Commerce Ministry has not yet responded publicly to media queries.
This development takes place against the backdrop of India’s rapidly expanding e-commerce space, valued at approximately US$125 billion in 2024 and projected to swell to US$345 billion by 2030. Meanwhile, foreign e-commerce operators, particularly U. S.-based Amazon and Flipkart, have long contended that the inventory-based model they use globally is impeded in India by FDI restrictions—restrictions designed to prevent foreign platforms from influencing pricing or favouring affiliated sellers.
Amazon’s request interlinks with broader efforts in the export ecosystem. Earlier this month, the Federation of Indian Export Organisations agreed to sign an MoU with Amazon to support exporters via cross-border e-commerce, including training, compliance assistance and market access support.
The issue also ties into wider trade dynamics. U. S.–India trade tensions remain unresolved, and Amazon’s proposal adds complexity to ongoing discussions. Modifying FDI norms for the export segment could influence negotiations and set precedents for how e-commerce platforms operate within the country.
As exporters grapple with global headwinds, including rising tariffs in key sectors, the government is evaluating how regulatory changes could facilitate global access without dismantling protections for domestic retail.
