Daily News - Friday, 6 February 2026
Singapore investors are showing interest in India, accounting for 23.87% of cumulative FDI inflows (Business World)
Singapore, already one of India’s largest foreign investors, is seeing record levels of interest in deploying capital into India, according to executives from the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN), a non‑profit established by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). Between January 2000 and December 2024, Singapore accounted for 23.87% of India’s cumulative equity FDI inflows, second only to Mauritius at 24.85%, while the US stood at 9.59%, according to Government of India data. At the Black Swan Summit in Bhubaneswar, GFTN Deputy Chairman Neil Parekh said India’s risk‑return equation has become more predictable, making it one of the most attractive places to invest for institutional investors. GFTN Capital has launched a USD 200 million (INR ~1,660 crore) fund in partnership with SBI Holdings of Japan, targeting growth‑stage fintech and insurtech firms in India. GFTN CEO Sopnendu Mohanty added that India’s fintech momentum is supported by digital public infrastructure like UPI, AI, and cloud platforms, which reduce capital expenditure and accelerate innovation. The summit also saw MoUs signed with Odisha’s IT Ministry and firms like Bajaj General Insurance, Spice Money, and Vayana, aimed at building fintech clusters, skills, and jobs in emerging regions beyond Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi.
India and the GCC signed terms of reference to begin formal FTA negotiations (The Print)
On February 5, 2026, India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) formally launched negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by signing Terms of Reference (ToR) in New Delhi. The signing was presided over by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, with GCC represented by officials from its six member states - Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain. The ToR outlines the scope and modalities of the proposed pact, aiming to boost bilateral trade, investments, food security, and energy cooperation. India-GCC trade currently stands at over USD 154 billion (INR ~12.8 lakh crore) annually, with the Gulf supplying nearly 35% of India’s crude oil imports. Talks had previously stalled in 2008, but the new framework revives momentum amid India’s push to diversify trade partners after recent tariff shocks with the US. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry emphasized that the FTA could open new opportunities for Indian exporters in gems, jewellery, textiles, and agriculture, while Gulf nations seek greater access to India’s petrochemical and energy markets.
The US Department of Agriculture said India has significant potential to import more American farm products (Indian Express)
On February 6, 2026, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said India has significant potential to expand imports of American farm products, which have long faced high tariffs and non‑tariff barriers. US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Leslie Rollins noted that the new India-US trade deal will open India’s massive market, helping reduce America’s USD 1.3 billion (INR ~10,800 crore) agricultural trade deficit with India in 2024. In 2024, India imported USD 2.4 billion (INR ~19,900 crore) worth of US farm goods mainly fruits, nuts, alcoholic beverages, cotton, vegetable oils, and processed items while exporting USD 6.2 billion (INR ~51,400 crore) of marine products, spices, dairy, rice, and herbal goods to the US. The USDA’s Three‑Point Plan (Sept 2025) aims to chip away at the USD 50 billion (INR ~4.15 lakh crore) global agricultural deficit through market promotion, reciprocal trade agreements, and rural prosperity programs. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal told Parliament that India’s “key sensitivities” in food and agriculture were safeguarded in the deal, while Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan reiterated that small and marginal farmers will be protected. The pact follows earlier WTO settlements, including India’s tariff cuts on US poultry and berries, and is expected to expand US exports of soybean, wheat, maize, and rice, though India insists no segment has been opened in a way that harms domestic farmers.
Aavas Financiers has delivered 500 EDGE‑certified self‑built green homes in India (The Wire)
Affordable housing finance company Aavas Financiers Limited has achieved a milestone of 500 self‑built homes certified under IFC’s EDGE green building standard in India. The programme is part of the Market Accelerator for Green Construction (MAGC), supported by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, and funded with UK aid. EDGE certification benchmarks homes against global baselines for energy, water, and embodied energy in materials, ensuring lower operational costs and resource efficiency. Since its launch in 2020, the initiative has combined housing finance with on‑ground support for customers, masons, and local construction ecosystems to make green construction practical in semi‑urban and rural markets. Sachinder Bhinder, MD & CEO of Aavas, said the achievement proves that green housing can be “practical, affordable, and repeatable,” and the company now aims to scale the model further. Early consumer research showed low awareness of green home loan products, but community mobilisation and capacity building have helped expand adoption across underserved regions.
