Amazon will invest over USD 35 bn in India by 2030 to scale AI capabilities, expand logistics, and deepen its export base, amid a wave of big tech capital pledges to India, Reuters reports. This week Microsoft committed USD 17.5 bn for cloud and AI infrastructure by 2030. Google has also pledged USD 15 bn investment over the next five years.

Strategic escalation: The e-commerce giant, which has already pumped USD 40 bn since 2010, is scaling aggressively in the e-retail industry to counter Walmart and Reliance.

The bigger competition picture: Amazon will push front and centre on AI capacity-building, supply-chain upgrades, and small-business enablement in India. The accelerated spending comes as competition intensifies with Walmart-backed Flipkart and Reliance Retail. For a market with surging digital consumption, the investment wave signals that India is now a mega battleground of competition for US tech giants and more established local giants.

Transnet finalizes Durban port concession agreement with ICTS: South Africa’s rail and port operator Transnet has finalized a 25-year concession agreement with the Philippines-based International Container Terminal Services(ICTS) for the main terminal at Durban port, Bloomberg reports. The concession would see the company owned by Filipino b’naire Enrique Razon invest USD 647 mn into Durban — Africa’s busiest container hub.

About the terminal: Durban’s second terminal handles more than 40% of South Africa’s container volumes, and 70% of Durban’s, the news outlet reports, citing Transnet CEO Michelle Phillips.

The agreement could be a first of many to come, as South Africa works to reel in private sector investments to revamp its ailing ports, which have been dragged down by allegations of corruption and poor performance. Transnet ports rank among the least efficient in the world, undermining the country’s coal and iron ore exports.

REMEMBER- Durban is on our radar in the region: Saudi’s Red Sea Gateway Terminal International (RSGTI) was reportedly eyeing a potential USD 600 mn bid to develop and operate a fresh produce terminal at South Africa’s Durban port as of May. Reports also linked RSGTI to the port of Cape Town.

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