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India UAE energy ties unlock new avenues
India pivots exports to MENA | ITC Infotech’s digital hub in Riyadh | QIA and Mubadala get minority take in Reliance retail arm
Friday, 16 January 2026
Good afternoon, folks
Our Big Story Today explains why India’s bid to settle oil trade in INR payments is stumbling. Economist Abhijit Mukhopadhyay tells us that the trade deficit, currency volatility, and a lack of trust in the INR are stumbling blocks disrupting INR trade settlements.
Today at a glance
India Focus
Investment Watch
The Big Story
India UAE energy ties are expanding into new avenues
While Indian firms are drilling oil in Abu Dhabi, Etihad…
India reduces minimum public float to 2.5% in IPOs for large companies
Coca Cola’s India unit is planning a USD 1 bn listing
INDUSTRIES
Automotive
Zoho Corporation launches data centers in the UAE
Maruti expands footprint as India looks to become Suzuki’s next…
Aviation
Saudi adds Kozhikode to India network with new Riyadh service
Plus: Lenovo to produce AI servers in India
Banking
RBI bins 9.4k regulatory circulars in a bid to make it easier to do business
New framework covers 11 regulated entity categories across the financial…
Construction
L&T bags major orders in Saudi Arabia
With a surge in contracts, L&T continues to take on…
Energy
Vitol and Trafigura pitch Venezuelan crude to India following US approval
State-owned refiners and Reliance weigh new spot offers against long-term…
Financial Services
Why India’s INR push keeps losing to the AED in the oil trade
Despite regulatory backing and high-profile pilots, India’s local-currency oil trade…
Startups
Investment in Indian tech startups sink to five-year low as Gulf capital turns selective
Gulf funds scaled down India tech activity in 2025, with…
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%…
