Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal Meets European Industry Leaders in Brussels to Deepen India–EU Industrial and Technology Co...
Zero-duty India-UK trade under CETA begins with jewellery and coffee consignments, supported by exporter compliance guidance. India-UK CETA introduced a low- or zero-tariff regime covering about 99 per cent of tariff lines for Indian exports to the United Kingdom. Initial zero-duty jewellery and coffee consignments reached the UK under the agreement. CETA is intended to improve market competitiveness, strengthen supply chains and support businesses, exporters, importers and investors. A dedicated facilitation forum and a guide to UK import standards and regulatory requirements support Indian exporters, particularly small and medium enterprises, in navigating the post-CETA trading regime.
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Foreign asset reporting requires complete Schedule FA and Schedule FSI disclosures despite limited information displayed in the Annual Information Statement. Annual Information Statement records for eligible taxpayers include foreign assets and foreign-source income information received through the Automatic Exchange of Information framework. The information is intended to facilitate accurate tax compliance and is not a scrutiny or investigation mechanism. As the displayed data is limited to information received from partner jurisdictions and is not exhaustive, taxpayers must correctly and completely disclose all foreign assets and foreign-source income in Schedule FA and Schedule FSI, whether or not such information appears in the Annual Information Statement.
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Cost Inflation Index enables inflation-adjusted long-term capital gains calculations through indexed acquisition cost for eligible capital asset transfers. The Cost Inflation Index for financial year 2026-27 is 384 for computing inflation-adjusted long-term capital gains on transfers of capital assets, including immovable property, securities and jewellery. It is used to determine indexed cost of acquisition by adjusting purchase cost for inflation. Long-term classification generally requires holding exceeding 36 months, with stated periods of 24 months for immovable property and unlisted shares and 12 months for listed securities.
India-EU industrial and technology cooperation advances through trade facilitation, resilient supply chains, digital innovation and expanded market access. India-EU industrial and technology cooperation was advanced through engagements addressing industrial collaboration, technology partnerships, bilateral trade opportunities and business-to-business cooperation. Discussions covered trade facilitation, investment flows, supply-chain resilience, digital innovation, competitiveness and regulatory challenges. The interactions emphasised industry-led growth, greater market access for Indian enterprises and innovation-driven partnerships under the Trade and Technology Council framework.
Preferential India-UK trade framework introduces broad zero-duty export access, self-certified origin documentation, and social-security contribution relief for temporary professionals. India-United Kingdom CETA entered into force with preferential tariff treatment, including zero-duty access in the United Kingdom for nearly 99 per cent of India's exports. The Agreement covers goods, services and cooperation in customs, digital trade, financial services, telecommunications, intellectual property and professional services. The associated Agreement on Social Security exempts Indian professionals on temporary United Kingdom assignments from double social-security contributions for up to five years. Rules of Origin certification was operationalised through self-certified Certificates of Origin issued on the eCoO 2.0 platform.
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Competition clearance governs full acquisition of a data-centre provider alongside co-investor economic interests in the transaction. Competition approval concerns Opal Bidco Pte. Ltd.'s acquisition of the entire shareholding in STT GDC Pte. Ltd., a data-centre provider. The transaction also provides for specified co-investors to acquire economic interests in STT GDC on a see-through basis. STT GDC operates in India through an indirect subsidiary and is among multiple data-centre participants active in India.
Windfall tax on petroleum exports revises diesel and aviation fuel levies while reducing the petrol export levy. Special Additional Excise Duty on petroleum-product exports was revised from 16 July 2026, increasing the levy on diesel and aviation turbine fuel exports while reducing it on petrol exports. Duty rates on petrol and diesel cleared for domestic consumption remained unchanged. The windfall tax framework seeks to support domestic fuel availability and discourage exporters from benefiting from differences between domestic and global fuel prices during elevated crude-oil prices.
Duty-free market access under the India-UK trade pact expands exports while preserving safeguards for procurement and policy space. The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement provides duty-free access for nearly 99 per cent of Indian exports and includes reciprocal government-procurement access subject to safeguards. India retains MSME preferences, limits covered procurement to selected central entities, excludes strategic sectors, and applies minimum contract thresholds. The agreement preserves compulsory licensing and permits withdrawal of certain concessions if a future UK carbon tax adversely affects Indian exports. Its gender, SME, environment, and labour chapters contain no dispute-settlement provisions.
India-UK trade agreement expands duty-free market access and tariff reductions for exports, services, manufacturing and small enterprises. India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is stated to provide duty-free access in the UK market for 99 per cent of Indian products and to reduce or eliminate UK import tariffs across key product categories. It is expected to support Karnataka exports in manufacturing, agricultural produce, processed food, electronics, aerospace and medical devices, with certain tariff reductions phased out over time. Mode 1 services provisions are identified as beneficial to Bengaluru's IT industry, while awareness programmes and investment roadshows are proposed to help exporters and attract investment.
Foreign investment screening cooperation advances investment flows alongside trade, technology, supply-chain resilience and prospective investment-protection commitments. India and the European Union concluded a work programme on foreign direct investment screening, exchanging best practices to facilitate investment flows. Trade and Technology Council cooperation addresses market access, standards harmonisation, supply-chain requirements, deep-tech innovation and critical dependencies. The parties also discussed free trade agreement ratification, World Trade Organization reform, and prospective investment-protection and geographical-indications agreements. The Council provides an institutional mechanism for cooperation on trade, trusted technology and economic security.
Balance of payments reporting shows a current account surplus despite a wider trade deficit and portfolio investment outflows. Balance of payments data for April-May 2026 records a current account surplus, supported by increased net services receipts, higher inward remittances and a marginal reduction in net income outgo. The merchandise trade deficit widened as imports rose more than exports. The overall balance of payments moved into deficit, while net foreign direct investment increased and net foreign portfolio investment recorded a larger net outflow.
Online betting money laundering investigation examines alleged proxy accounts, simulated salary payments, cross-border routing, and custodial investigation of the money trail. Money-laundering allegations concerning an online betting syndicate involve purported routing of betting proceeds through fictitious or proxy bank accounts, simulated salary payments, share-capital investments, and foreign institutional channels. An Ebix Group chairman was arrested in connection with the alleged money trail and remanded for investigation. The investigating agency states that prosecution complaints have been filed and that separate state economic-offence and central investigations address connected cases. Political-link allegations were denied, and the stated laundering assertions remain under investigation.
Huge Untapped Potential for Investment and Trade Between India and South Africa: Anand Sharma – Addresses India Business Forum – Meets South African President
January 11, 2011
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Shri Anand Sharma, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, while addressing the India Business Forum, in Johannesburg last evening, said that there are huge untapped potential exists in the area of investment and bilateral trade between India and South Africa. Interacting with the captains of industry from both sides, Shri Sharma said that for Indian businessmen, Africa is an untested but potential huge trade and investment market for the future. South Africa could provide the key to unlocking this market. While it is hardly possible to see any better partner for Africa than India. He further added that India has become an important destination for investment and we are inviting foreign capital to fulfill our development requirements, at the same time many of our companies are expanding across the world and have earned a name for themselves as global challengers. "There is also a need to move into other sectors. Besides the business areas mentioned above, South Africa also offers enormous opportunities for Indian firms, especially in sectors like construction and engineering, mining, renewable energy and space science", the Minister said.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Sharma said that Indian investment in South Africa has been substantially rising, at the same time there is a growing trend of South African investments in India. "India's involvement with Africa is and has been focused on helping African countries develop their own potential for human resource development. This has been an evolving process and India has, over the years, extended cooperation not just in IT, but also in agriculture, SMEs, transportation, infrastructure, health and education", he added.
During his visit, Shri Sharma participated in the commemorative celebrations of 150 years of arrival of Indians in South Africa. In his meeting with the President of South Africa, Mr. Jacob Zuma, Shri Sharma congratulated President Zuma on South Africa joining BRIC. He also conveyed India's desire to work together with South Africa in BRIC even as both the countries continue to deepen their partnership in the IBSA framework.
As regards India-SACU PTA, Shri Sharma said that India is now hoping for early conclusion of India - SACU Preferential Trade Agreement and added that this should provide an enormous boost to ongoing levels of bilateral trade—especially in products such as pharmaceuticals, machinery, automobiles, where India enjoys a competitive advantage.
Inaugurating the first-ever MMTC Office in Johannesburg, Shri Sharma said that this will allow us to enhance our direct purchases of key commodities from South Africa including gold and other metals and minerals. The Minister mentioned that MMTC would like to use this office for exploring vast opportunities for sourcing ferrous and non-ferrous metals i.e. nickel, aluminum, copper, tin, zinc, silicon, magnesium, titanium and cobalt from South Africa. The office of MMTC in South Africa could look at business opportunities in the entire African continent and would facilitate greater cooperation. Sourcing of Rough Diamonds and cooperation in the field of Precious Stones could be focus areas for both the countries. MMTC is looking for import of coal and joint ventures for coal exploration with African companies with a committed buy-back arrangement.
India is South Africa's largest trading partner in South and South-East Asia and one of South Africa's top-ten trading partners globally. Total trade has more than doubled since 2004-05 to cross $7.5 billion. The bilateral trade, has grown from US $ 3.18 billion in 2004-05 to US $ 7.73 billion in 2009-10. In the year 2009-10, India's exports to South Africa were US $ 2,058 million and imports from South Africa were US $ 5,674 million. Bilateral trade during this period (April-Sep. 2010) was to the tune of US $ 5,393 mn, up from US $ 3,757 mn in the corresponding 6-month period of April-Sep. 2009. Exports from India to South Africa during the 6-month period of April, 2010 to September, 2010 were US $ 2,267 mn, registering a growth of 118 % over the corresponding 6-month period of April-Sep. 2009. Imports from South Africa to India during the 6-month period of April, 2010 to September, 2010 were US $ 3,125 mn, registering a growth of 15% over the corresponding 6-month period of April-Sep. 2009.
India's exports to South Africa comprises mineral fuels, automobiles, iron & steel, machinery and instruments, organic and inorganic chemicals, drugs and pharmaceuticals, cotton yarn and fabrics and rice and other cereals. India's imports from South Africa were gold, aluminium, phosphoric acid, coal, pulp and waste paper, precious stones including diamonds, etc.
Investment and trade potential between India and South Africa urged to be unlocked, with PTA and sectoral cooperation driving growth.
Huge untapped investment and trade potential exists between India and South Africa, with calls to diversify sectoral engagement into construction, mining, renewable energy and space science. The note urges early conclusion of an India-SACU Preferential Trade Agreement to boost trade in pharmaceuticals, machinery and automobiles, and highlights MMTC's new Johannesburg office to strengthen direct sourcing of metals, minerals, rough diamonds and coal, including joint exploration ventures and pan African business outreach.
Note: It is a system-generated summary and is for quick reference only.
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