Asia Pulls in Record AI Capital as India, Singapore & Malaysia Outshine Global Slowdown—Moody’s Analytics
East and Southeast Asia are bucking the broader retreat in cross‑border investment, with India soaking up more than US $10 billion in AI‑related capital between 2022 and 2025, Moody’s Analytics reports. A companion chart, “U.S. AI Investment Directed at Asia,” shows Washington as the unrivalled financier, dispatching nearly US $45 billion—dwarfing Taiwan, China and Japan—while destinations such as Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Australia and Vietnam also notch sizeable flows. The surge is powered by deepening demand for semiconductors and data‑centre capacity, sectors that remain well funded despite geopolitical headwinds.
For companies outside India, the findings underscore Asia’s growing centrality to the AI supply chain. Lower operating costs, policy incentives (notably in Singapore and Malaysia) and India’s vast digital talent pool make the region a strategic launch‑pad for expansion, joint ventures and supply‑chain diversification. Non‑Indian firms eyeing resilient growth and proximity to next‑generation chip and data‑centre projects may find that partnering—or building—here is now less a choice than a competitive necessity.
Editor’s Note: East and Southeast Asia, led by India, Singapore, and Malaysia, are attracting record AI investment—over US $10 billion into India alone—despite a global slowdown, with the U.S. contributing nearly US $45 billion to the region. This surge highlights Asia’s pivotal role in the AI supply chain, driven by affordable operations, policy incentives, and deep tech talent, making the region a strategic imperative for global firms seeking growth and resilience.
India Imposes Five-Year Anti-Dumping Duties on Chinese Aluminium Foil Imports to Boost Domestic Industry
India’s Ministry of Finance has implemented a definitive anti-dumping duty on aluminium foil imports (5.5–80 microns thick) from China, effective from March 17, 2025, for a duration of five years. The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) found that Chinese exporters were selling foil at dumped prices—ranging from US $479 to $721 per metric tonne—significantly injuring domestic manufacturers. This decisive move follows a provisional six-month duty and aims to safeguard local units by leveling the competitive field.
According to data from June 2025, India imported 231,182 tonnes of aluminium foil during fiscal year 2024–25, with 156,812 tonnes originating from China—a 9 percent increase compared to the previous year—raising alarms over massive inflows undermining domestic capacity. The new safeguards restrict unfair pricing and are part of broader trade-defense efforts, following similar duties on other chemicals like acetonitrile and pretilachlor from China, Taiwan, and Russia, also enforced for five years.
Editor’s Note: India has imposed a five-year anti-dumping duty on Chinese aluminium foil (5.5–80 microns thick) starting March 17, 2025, following evidence of unfair pricing that harmed domestic producers. This move, part of broader trade-defense measures, comes amid rising imports—156,812 tonnes from China in FY 2024–25—and aligns with similar duties on other chemicals from China, Taiwan, and Russia.
IIT Delhi Develops Breakthrough Energy-Efficient MOD-PC Using 2D-Materials, Paving Way for AI-Driven Computing
A research team at IIT Delhi has developed an innovative and compact computing device named MOD-PC (Multifunctional Optoelectronic Device for Processing Circuits), utilizing 2D-material Tungsten Diselenide (WSe₂) for next-gen, energy-efficient computing. Led by Prof. Samaresh Das, Head of CARE, and developed by Dr. Manoj Kumar and Kritika Bhattacharya, the MOD-PC mimics the human brain’s visual cortex—capable of learning, storing, and processing optical signals in a single unit. Unlike traditional bulky and power-intensive chips, this multifunctional device supports digital, analog, and mixed-signal operations, potentially overcoming major “memory and power wall” limitations faced by conventional architectures.
This development holds global relevance as it advances neuromorphic computing hardware, essential for powering future AI and neuro-robotic systems. For non-Indian companies, particularly in semiconductors, AI, and computing hardware, this signals a promising partnership or technology licensing opportunity. As MOD-PC aligns with India’s broader Semiconductor Mission and “Make-in-India” drive, global players seeking to diversify chip production or explore next-generation AI processors may benefit from collaboration with Indian research institutions like IIT Delhi.
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Editor’s Note: IIT Delhi has developed MOD-PC, a compact and energy-efficient computing device using 2D-material WSe₂ that mimics the brain’s visual cortex to process optical signals, addressing limitations of traditional chip architectures. The innovation advances neuromorphic AI hardware and offers global collaboration potential, aligning with India’s Semiconductor Mission and “Make-in-India” strategy.
China’s Rare‑Earth Curbs Threaten India’s Audio‑Electronics Output, Trigger Price Spike and Supply Jitters
China’s new export‑licence regime for seven rare‑earth elements—especially terbium and dysprosium used in neodymium‑iron‑boron (NdFeB) magnets—has pinched India’s speaker, wearables and television supply chains. Industry body ELCINA warns that magnet shortages could idle assembly lines in Noida, Chennai and Pune, putting more than 21,000 direct and indirect jobs at risk and reversing “Make‑in‑India” gains as firms consider importing finished speakers instead of local builds. NdFeB magnets make up 5‑7 % of a product’s bill of materials, yet India sources almost 90 % of its needs from China; tightened controls have already pushed Chinese‑origin magnet prices up 15–20 % and delayed shipments by weeks.
Manufacturers such as Videotex and Super Plastronics are scrambling for stop‑gap ferrite magnets, but concede the heavier substitutes degrade audio quality, while alternative rare‑earth supply from Japan or Vietnam costs up to three times more. Industry groups are pressing New Delhi for fast‑track end‑use certificates, a production‑linked incentive scheme and domestic processing capacity; the finance ministry has signalled a seven‑year plan to seed local magnet plants and cut import dependence. For non‑Indian companies in consumer electronics—or magnet and materials suppliers—this crunch is both a cautionary tale and an opening: diversifying sourcing, partnering with Indian firms on local magnet projects, or stepping in as alternative suppliers could secure market share in a fast‑growing electronics hub while China’s controls reshape global supply chains.
Editor’s Note: China’s new export controls on key rare earth elements like terbium and dysprosium have disrupted India’s audio electronics manufacturing, threatening over 21,000 jobs and prompting firms to seek costlier or lower-quality substitutes. With India relying on China for nearly 90% of these materials, the crisis has triggered calls for local magnet production and presents opportunities for global players to partner on alternatives amid shifting supply chains.
India Champions Inclusive AI at SPIEF 2025, Calls for Global Equity in Tech Access
At the 2025 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw outlined India’s strategic vision for the democratization of artificial intelligence, positioning AI as a public good to be harnessed across all socio-economic layers. Speaking at a high-level session on the future of AI and global competition, Vaishnaw emphasized equity, accessibility, and ethical innovation as the cornerstones of India’s approach. He spotlighted the INDIAai Mission—India’s national AI strategy—as a model for inclusive development and sustainability, supported by a fast-growing, AI-skilled workforce. The minister underlined India’s commitment to ensuring AI’s benefits extend beyond urban tech hubs to rural communities and MSMEs.
On the sidelines, Vaishnaw met Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk to advance bilateral cooperation in infrastructure, connectivity, and rare earth supply chains—key inputs for AI and semiconductor ecosystems. For non-Indian companies, India’s push for “AI for All” signals both a strategic opportunity and a structural shift. Global AI developers, chipmakers, and ethical AI solution providers stand to benefit by aligning with India’s inclusive, open-access agenda. Those focused on affordable deployment, multilingual AI tools, and responsible use frameworks will find a receptive market in a country actively shaping global norms for human-centric technology.
Editor’s Note: At SPIEF 2025, India highlighted its inclusive vision for AI as a public good, emphasizing equity, accessibility, and the INDIAai Mission to extend benefits beyond urban centers to rural areas and MSMEs. This approach, backed by bilateral talks with Russia and a growing AI-skilled workforce, signals major opportunities for global firms focused on ethical, affordable, and human-centric AI solutions.
Sebi Eases ESOP Rules for Startup Founders Ahead of IPOs; Unveils Fixed-Price Delisting Path for PSUs
In a major policy shift aimed at supporting India’s startup ecosystem, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has relaxed ESOP norms for IPO-bound founders, allowing them to retain employee stock options granted at least one year before filing a draft red herring prospectus (DRHP). This removes a long-standing hurdle under earlier regulations that forced promoters to forgo such equity benefits prior to listing, significantly impacting startup founders. The move is expected to smoothen public listing journeys for startups by preserving founder incentives and better aligning with global market practices.
Sebi also cleared amendments to the Delisting of Equity Shares Regulations, 2021, introducing a fixed-price route for delisting public sector undertakings (PSUs) with promoter shareholding of 90% or more. Eligible PSUs can now delist at a minimum 15% premium over a floor price set by registered valuers, without needing approval from two-thirds of public shareholders—acknowledging the typically low public float in such entities. For non-Indian companies and investors, these decisions signal a more flexible and capital-market friendly regulatory environment, particularly for global VC- or PE-backed Indian startups eyeing IPOs, and for those tracking opportunities in India’s strategic PSU assets or considering partnerships with unlisted government enterprises.
Editor’s Note: Sebi has eased ESOP rules to let IPO-bound startup founders retain stock options granted at least a year before filing, boosting founder incentives and aligning with global norms. It also introduced a fixed-price delisting route for PSUs with 90% promoter stake, signaling a more flexible, investor-friendly regulatory environment for both startups and strategic state-owned assets.