Daily News - Wednesday, 8 January 2025
Indian employers hope for computer tech, semicon edge (mint)
The World Economic Forum’s report highlights that India’s job market by 2030 will be shaped by digital access, geopolitical tensions, and climate-mitigation efforts, with firms heavily investing in AI, robotics, and energy technologies. Indian employers are expected to outpace global peers in adopting semiconductors (35%) and quantum technologies (21%), with job growth focusing on roles like AI specialists and big data experts, while addressing skill gaps through diverse talent pools (67%) and skills-based hiring (30%). Globally, a net increase of 78 million jobs is projected by 2030, but 41% of employers plan workforce reductions due to AI automation, emphasizing the urgent need for upskilling to balance risks and opportunities.
India to hold defence talks with Maldives from today (mint)
Maldivian Defence Minister Mohammed Ghassan Maumoon is visiting India from January 8-10 to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation, holding talks with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to review areas such as training, exercises, and equipment supply for the Maldives National Defence Forces. This visit comes after India’s withdrawal of military personnel from the Maldives in 2023, with both nations working to restore relations despite the pro-China stance of President Mohamed Muizzu, who emphasized stronger ties with India during his October visit. The Maldives remains crucial to India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and SAGAR initiative, with bilateral cooperation key to ensuring security and stability in the Indian Ocean Region.
Tariff cuts on mobile imports not good: GTRI (Financial Chronicle)
Amid proposals to reduce tariffs on electronics and smartphone component imports, GTRI warns this could harm India’s developing local manufacturing ecosystem, discourage investment, and derail self-reliance goals. While industry groups advocate for tariff cuts in the 2025 Union Budget, GTRI highlights risks of encouraging unsustainable assembly-based operations, making local firms uncompetitive, increasing reliance on foreign suppliers, and exacerbating job losses in mid and low-end segments dependent on domestic components. With electronics component imports already rising by 36.7% in FY24, GTRI recommends setting up component hubs near ports to minimize delays and reduce warehousing costs instead of tariff cuts.
Microsoft unveils $3-billion outlay plan for India to boost Al, cloud infrastructure (The Hindu)
Microsoft has announced a record $3 billion investment in India, aimed at building new data centers to strengthen AI infrastructure and support one of the fastest-growing digital markets, as revealed by CEO Satya Nadella at the AI Tour in Bengaluru. This investment will drive AI innovation across industries like healthcare and knowledge work while enhancing tools like GitHub Copilot and AI-powered platforms to boost productivity for Indian enterprises, with India poised to host the largest developer community on GitHub by 2028. Nadella highlighted India’s unique combination of entrepreneurial energy, robust infrastructure, and demographics as key drivers for its AI leadership, aligning with Microsoft’s global vision, including its $80 billion AI data center initiative planned for 2025.
Kandla Port Sets Sail for ₹57,000 cr Investments (The Economic Times)
The government announced a ₹57,000-crore investment plan for Gujarat’s Kandla Port to boost its capacity by 50% with a new 135 mtpa cargo terminal and establish a mega shipbuilding facility capable of producing 32 new ships or repairing 50 annually. Spanning 8,000 acres, the project will include a marina, fishing harbor, townships, and a marine industrial cluster, enabling India to build VLCCs and similar vessels with capacities up to 320,000 DWT, advancing the Make-in-India initiative. Deendayal Port Authority will oversee the expansion, increasing the current 263 mtpa capacity by enhancing liquid and dry bulk cargo handling along the 6 km waterfront outside Kandla Creek.
