Taiwan Eyes Free Trade Pact with India to Deepen Investment and Trade Ties
台灣尋求與印度簽署自由貿易協定以深化投資與貿易關係
The Chairman of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), James Chih-Fang Huang, expressed optimism about the possibility of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and Taiwan, calling it a potential catalyst for stronger business partnerships and increased Taiwanese investments in India. Speaking at the Taiwan Expo 2025 held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, Huang described India as a key market in Taiwan’s export strategy, noting that India has become one of Taiwan’s most important export destinations. He added that bilateral trade is expected to double in the next five to six years, and an FTA would further accelerate Taiwanese participation in India’s manufacturing and technology sectors.
Echoing the sentiment, Benjamin Lin, President of Delta Electronics India, announced plans to expand operations with a new manufacturing site in Tamil Nadu, while Yu-Chi Chen, Executive Director of the Economic Division at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre, highlighted that bilateral trade touched a record USD 10.6 billion in 2024 and is poised to break that mark in 2025. The growing trade and potential FTA underscore India’s rising importance as a global manufacturing and investment hub — a signal for non-Indian companies to explore India as a strategic base for supply chains and regional partnerships amid shifting global trade dynamics.
小編點評：台灣對與印度簽署自由貿易協定保持樂觀，視其為深化商業關係與增加投資的催化劑，特別是在製造業與科技領域。隨著雙邊貿易在 2024 年達到 106 億美元並預計持續增長，台達電子等企業正擴大在印度的營運，顯示印度正成為全球戰略樞紐。
Government to Launch ₹1 Lakh Crore RDI Fund to Boost Private Sector Innovation
印度政府將推出 1 兆盧比 RDI 基金以促進民營創新
The government is in the final stages of launching the ₹1 lakh crore Research Development and Innovation (RDI) fund — the first public funding initiative aimed at supporting private sector R&D in India. Announced in the Union Budget and approved by the Cabinet in July, the fund is expected to roll out by November this year. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), told The Economic Times that the move marks a major shift in India’s innovation policy, enabling public funds to directly stimulate private research and product development.
Karandikar explained that the RDI fund will function through a two-tier structure, with the DST channeling investments via professional fund managers rather than making direct allocations. The model will leverage venture capital and alternative investment funds, along with key institutions such as IITs and the Technology Development Board, to identify and support high-potential technologies and startups. The initiative could open new collaboration avenues for foreign technology firms, global investors, and innovation-driven enterprises seeking to engage with India’s expanding research ecosystem.
小編點評：印度政府預計於 11 月推出 1 兆盧比的「研究、發展與創新（RDI）」基金，以推動民營部門研發，這標誌著印度創新政策的重大轉變。該基金將透過專業基金經理人運作，並由 IIT 與技術發展委員會等機構支持，旨在吸引全球投資者並促進高潛力技術與新創企業的成長。
Global Semiconductor Industry Faces Mounting Skills Shortage; Firms Turn to Cross-Border Training and Talent Rotation
全球半導體產業面臨嚴重人才短缺；企業轉向跨境培訓與人才輪調
The global semiconductor industry is confronting a deepening skills crisis, with over one million additional skilled workers expected to be needed by 2030. Rapid advances in AI, 5G, and quantum computing have outpaced the availability of qualified talent, creating a widening gap between demand and workforce readiness. Industry reports, including one from KPMG, highlight talent risk as a top concern for semiconductor leaders in 2025. The shortage is particularly acute in specialized roles such as VLSI design, process engineering, and materials science — leading to project delays, productivity losses, and billions in unrealized value. In India alone, the semiconductor sector requires an estimated 320,000–350,000 professionals, underscoring the urgency for global intervention.
To counter the shortage, chipmakers are increasingly adopting global training programs and talent rotation strategies that allow engineers to gain hands-on experience in advanced facilities abroad and transfer that expertise back home. Companies are also partnering with institutions in semiconductor hubs like Taiwan and Singapore to create tailored learning pathways and in-house centers of excellence. For non-Indian companies, this trend signals an opportunity to collaborate on workforce development, establish regional training partnerships, and tap into emerging markets such as India to build sustainable, skilled talent pipelines essential for the next era of semiconductor innovation.
小編點評：全球半導體產業正面臨嚴重人才短缺，到 2030 年需要超過 100 萬名技術人員，尤其是在 VLSI 設計與製程工程等專業領域—這推動迫切的全球行動，包括印度在內的需求超過 32 萬名專業人士。為因應挑戰，企業正採用跨境培訓、人才輪調，並與台灣、新加坡等半導體重鎮的機構建立合作，以打造永續的技能供應鏈並開拓新興市場。
Germany Courts Indian Tech Talent Amid U.S. Visa Crackdown
德國在美國簽證收緊之際積極吸引印度科技人才
Germany is positioning itself as a top destination for skilled Indian professionals at a time when the United States has tightened its H-1B visa rules and introduced a hefty $100,000 application fee, restricting access for many applicants. German Ambassador to India Philipp Ackermann, in a post on X, urged highly skilled Indians to consider Germany, highlighting its “reliable, modern, and predictable” migration policy. He emphasized that Indian professionals are among the top earners in Germany, contributing significantly to the country’s economy and welfare. Comparing Germany’s migration framework to its precision-engineered cars, Ackermann underscored its stability and transparency — a clear contrast to the growing uncertainty surrounding the U.S. immigration system.
With the U.S. pipeline for Indian tech workers likely to shrink, Germany’s proactive outreach could reshape global talent flows in technology, science, and management. For non-Indian companies, this shift signals a potential redistribution of high-skilled labor, opening opportunities for collaboration, recruitment, and investment in Germany’s growing innovation ecosystem. The move also reflects Europe’s broader strategy to fill critical skill gaps and strengthen competitiveness in advanced industries amid intensifying global competition for talent.
小編點評：隨著美國收緊 H-1B 簽證規則並收取高額申請費用，德國正積極吸引印度科技人才，推廣其穩定且透明的移民政策作為最佳替代方案。此舉可能重塑全球人才流動，為非印度企業在德國擴大的創新生態中帶來合作與投資新機會。
Tata Electronics in Talks with Global Vendors for India’s Semiconductor Projects
Tata Electronics 與全球供應商洽談印度半導體專案合作
Tata Electronics is engaging with several international suppliers to support its upcoming semiconductor fabrication plant in Dholera, Gujarat, and an outsourced assembly and test (OSAT) facility in Assam, according to industry sources. The company has reportedly held discussions with major equipment providers, including Dutch photolithography giant ASML and South Korea’s JT Corp, a specialist in semiconductor testing systems. These talks mark a significant step in Tata’s efforts to establish a full-fledged semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem in India under the government’s broader push for self-reliance in advanced electronics.
The initiative highlights India’s growing ambition to emerge as a global semiconductor hub and offers new partnership opportunities for non-Indian firms across the chip value chain. International equipment makers, materials suppliers, and technology partners could benefit from early collaborations as Tata Electronics builds domestic capacity. For global players, India’s expanding semiconductor landscape represents not only a new market but also a strategic diversification opportunity amid evolving global supply chain realignments.
小編點評：Tata Electronics 正與包括荷蘭光刻機巨頭 ASML 及韓國 JT Corp 在內的全球供應商洽談合作，以支持其在古吉拉特邦的半導體晶圓廠與在阿薩姆邦的 OSAT 設施。此舉推動印度在先進電子領域的自給自足，也為全球合作夥伴在半導體價值鏈中創造策略性機會，隨著印度定位為全球半導體樞紐，國際合作前景日益擴展。
PhonePe Files for $1.5 Billion IPO, Poised to Be One of India’s Biggest Fintech Listings
PhonePe 申請 15 億美元 IPO，預計成為印度最大金融科技上市案之一
Walmart-backed digital payments firm PhonePe Limited has filed its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), marking the first step toward a highly anticipated initial public offering (IPO) that could raise about $1.5 billion (₹12,000 crore) at a valuation of nearly $15 billion. The IPO is expected to comprise a mix of fresh share issuance and an offer for sale by existing investors, with Kotak Mahindra Capital, JPMorgan, Citigroup, and Morgan Stanley serving as lead managers. Filed under SEBI’s confidential route, the draft allows for regulatory feedback and flexible timing. In FY25, PhonePe reported a 40% rise in revenue to over ₹7,100 crore, a narrowing loss of ₹1,727 crore, and positive free cash flow exceeding ₹1,200 crore, underscoring improved financial performance ahead of the listing.
With over 600 million registered users and 40 million merchants, PhonePe has cemented its position as India’s largest UPI-based payments platform while expanding into lending, insurance, and wealth management. For non-Indian companies and global investors, the IPO represents a key entry point into India’s fast-growing digital finance ecosystem — one of the largest consumer fintech markets outside China. The listing could also set a benchmark for global fintech valuations and signal increasing investor confidence in India’s regulated, rapidly maturing digital payments sector.
https://www.newindianexpress.com/business/2025/Sep/24/phonepe-files-draft-papers-for-15-billion-ipo
小編點評：PhonePe 已申請 15 億美元 IPO，估值達 150 億美元，展現強勁財務表現，成為印度最大金融科技上市案之一。憑藉 6 億用戶與跨足貸款、保險業務，此舉為全球投資者提供進入印度快速成長數位金融生態的關鍵管道