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India-GCC resume trade pact talks
India leads FDI inflows in the UAE. Reliance picks Venezuelan crude. Menzies lands in Bengaluru airport
Friday, 6 February 2026
Good afternoon, folks
India and the Gulf Cooperation Council have resumed talks on a trade agreement after two decades. While India is doubling down on trade pacts, its deficit with FTA-partner nations is expanding, raising eyebrows in New Delhi’s power corridors. We interviewed a leading Indian economist to explain why India’s FTAs are not contributing to higher exports.
Today at a glance
India Focus
Investment Watch
The Big Story
India and GCC agree on terms of reference to relaunch stalled FTA talks
The two parties inked a terms of reference to launch…
Indo-MIM firms up its USD 700 mn IPO
Indo-MIM is preparing to trim its valuation target to about USD 2.5 bn, as India’s equity market cools in January
INDUSTRIES
Automotive
Zoho Corporation launches data centers in the UAE
Maruti expands footprint as India looks to become Suzuki’s next…
Aviation
Menzies secures ground handling services contract at India’s Bengaluru Airport
The firm will also pour USD 9 mn to upgrade…
Banking
India drop funding for Iran port; government weighs 49% FDI cap in state banks
Plus: India taps diaspora investors as foreign funds exit local…
Construction
L&T bags major orders in Saudi Arabia
With a surge in contracts, L&T continues to take on…
Energy
THIS AFTERNOON: Reliance returns to Venezuelan crude; Tata Power begins site studies for nuclear projects
Plus: RBI holds rate at 5.25% as US, EU trade…
Financial Services
Saudi Re sets up Gift City base, cites India as key growth engine
The Saudi reinsurer brings India operations onshore at Gujarat International…
Startups
Iraq, Saudi reclaim India’s crude share amid sanctions
Plus: Air India flags USD 1.6 bn loss after crash…
POLICY
India’s export flows tilt toward GCC and Asia
Maersk to resume Middle East India Suez Canal
India plans nuclear-sector reset with potential USD 214 bn in investments
India is preparing a new space station, with aims to raise its global commercial space share from less than 2% to 8-10%…
