The first tranche of the proposed India–US bilateral trade agreement is nearly ready, and a joint statement announcing the deal is expected within the next four to five days, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday. Speaking to the media after the signing of the Terms of Reference with the Gulf Cooperation Council, Goyal said the formal agreement is likely to be signed around mid-March, following the joint announcement. He added that the new reciprocal tariff of 18 per cent would be implemented through an executive order to be issued by the United States aft
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that India has emerged as a reliable and trusted global partner as the world moves toward a new international order. Replying to the debate in the Rajya Sabha on the motion of thanks to the President’s address, he noted that major economies are keen to strengthen trade ties with India, reflecting growing global confidence in the country. Modi said India is signing future-ready trade agreements focused on long-term growth, including recent deals with nine major nations, among them the European Union comprising 27 countries. These agreements, h
The World Bank has approved an $830 million loan to support the revamp of India’s network of skills training institutes, aiming to strengthen workforce readiness and improve employability among youth. Jobs remain central to India’s growth trajectory, competitiveness, and its ambition of becoming Viksit Bharat. However, India’s youth account for nearly 72 per cent of the unemployed, and a persistent skills mismatch between training and industry requirements continues to limit productivity, firm growth, and earnings. While Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) play a crucial role in sk
Japanese investment applications in Thailand surged 146% in 2025 to exceed 119 billion baht, signalling growing optimism among Japanese businesses about Thailand’s economic rebound in the first half of 2026. The strong momentum reflects renewed confidence in the country as a key production and investment hub in Southeast Asia. In 2025, Japanese companies filed 311 investment projects in Thailand, a 17% year-on-year increase. Major investments were led by the automotive and auto parts sector, which attracted 28.3 billion baht, driven by expansion into hybrid electric vehicles. Electronics
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026, told NDA MPs that the biggest event of the century was India’s emergence at the centre of the global stage and its growing role in shaping the world order. Addressing a closed door parliamentary party meeting, Modi said India had demonstrated leadership during global uncertainty, including the Covid-19 pandemic and recent geopolitical upheavals. Referring to the recently concluded trade agreements with the US and the European Union, Modi said these deals reflected how the world was increasingly tilting towards India. He said th
President Donald Trump announced that the US would roll back punitive tariffs on Indian goods in exchange for India agreeing to halt purchases of Russian oil, easing months of trade tensions between the two countries. Following a phone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Trump said tariffs on Indian exports would be reduced to 18% from 25%, and an additional 25% duty linked to India’s Russian oil imports would be removed. Trump claimed India would eliminate its tariff and non-tariff barriers against the US and commit to buying over $500 billion worth of American energy, technology, a
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday held a breakfast meeting at the National Stock Exchange with its Managing Director and CEO Ashish Chauhan to discuss the overall impact and opportunities emerging from the Union Budget 2026. The breakout session was attended by investors and representatives from mutual funds and the asset management industry. In a post on social media platform X, Goyal said he was encouraged by the optimism expressed by market participants and their enthusiasm about the growth prospects outlined in the Budget. Addressing the gathering, the Mini
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the Union Budget 2026-27 presents an ambitious roadmap to accelerate the Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives, giving fresh momentum to India’s reform journey. In a video message, Mr Modi said the budget would inject new energy into the “reform express” and transform current aspirations into tangible outcomes. He described the budget as a unique one, focused on reducing the fiscal deficit and controlling inflation, while simultaneously maintaining high capital expenditure to sustain economic growth. The Prime Minister highlig
Saudi Arabia has revised its estimate of economic growth for 2025 upwards, signalling stronger than expected performance despite softer oil prices. In a flash reading released on Sunday, February 1st, 2026, the General Authority for Statistics said the Kingdom’s economy expanded by 4.5 per cent last year, exceeding the International Monetary Fund’s earlier forecast of 4.3 per cent. The revised figure is also slightly higher than the government’s own projection of 4.4 per cent outlined in its preliminary 2026 budget statement released in December. Growth was led by oil activities,
The GCC and wider Middle East region is poised to attract the next wave of investments in AI and technology-driven sectors, supported by business-friendly and innovation-led government policies, industry leaders said at the 9th edition of the Sharjah Entrepreneurial Festival 2026 During a panel discussion on the opening day titled “What Does the Next Year of Venture Capital Look Like?”, speakers highlighted the region’s growing appeal for global investors and startups alike. The session was moderated by Jamie Lane, Co-founder of Fwdstart, at the Founders Stage in the Startup Town zon