Taiwan Pushes for FTA with India to Boost Semiconductor and Trade Ties
台灣推動與印度簽署自由貿易協定以強化半導體與貿易關係
Amid global trade uncertainties, Taiwan has reiterated its intent to sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India, aiming to strengthen economic cooperation and establish a robust technology partnership. Taiwan’s Deputy Trade Representative Yen Huai-shing emphasized India’s central role in the New Southbound Policy, underscoring how Taiwan’s semiconductor expertise and India’s growing digital and IT capabilities could create a complementary supply chain. Experts note that such a partnership could accelerate India’s chipmaking ambitions and help both nations reduce dependence on China, though geopolitical pressures from Beijing remain a significant hurdle.
Beyond trade, Taiwan is also seeking greater labour cooperation with India to address workforce shortages amid demographic challenges. Taiwan’s Labour Ministry has announced expanded recruitment of Indian professionals, particularly in IT, research, and industry. Industry observers believe a successful FTA would not only reshape regional economic dynamics but also give Taiwan a strong foothold in India’s fast-growing market, while supporting India’s $10 billion semiconductor incentive plan. An India-Taiwan FTA could open new opportunities for global firms by strengthening supply chain resilience in Asia, diversifying chip production beyond China, and creating a more stable framework for international businesses engaged in electronics, IT services, and manufacturing.
小編點評：台灣正積極推動與印度簽署自由貿易協定（FTA），以深化經濟合作，結合半導體與數位能力，並支持印度 100 億美元晶片製造計畫，在全球貿易動盪中鞏固供應鏈韌性。除貿易之外，台灣也希望透過招募印度專業人才來擴展勞動力合作，藉此因應勞動力短缺，目標是建立更具韌性的供應鏈，並降低對中國的依賴。
Modi Visits China, Japan, and Russia Amid U.S. Tariff Pressures
莫迪訪問中國、日本與俄羅斯，以應對美國關稅壓力
Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins a key overseas tour on Thursday, meeting leaders of China, Japan, and Russia as India faces mounting trade tensions from U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff hikes of up to 50% on Indian exports. The visit includes Modi’s first trip to China in seven years and a high-profile stop in Japan, where New Delhi hopes to strengthen its “Make in India” initiative by deepening economic and strategic partnerships. Japanese media reported that companies from Japan are planning investments worth up to 10 trillion yen ($68 billion) in India over the next decade, with Suzuki Motor pledging around $8 billion in the near term.
Talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba are expected to focus on high-value manufacturing, rare earth minerals, and supply chain resilience within the Quad framework that also includes the U.S. and Australia. Officials highlighted that India, which holds significant deposits of rare earths but lacks advanced processing technologies, could become a major partner for Japan in securing critical minerals. While India continues to seek dialogue with Washington on tariffs, stronger ties with Japan and other major economies are being positioned as a buffer against global trade disruptions. For global businesses, Japan’s large-scale investment plans and cooperation on rare earths signal new opportunities in India’s industrial and technology sectors. Enhanced India-Japan ties could also reshape supply chains in electronics, automobiles, and renewable energy, providing alternative avenues as trade uncertainty with the U.S. lingers.
小編點評：莫迪總理出訪中國、日本與俄羅斯，旨在於美國對印度出口加徵關稅之際，強化戰略與經濟合作。日本承諾大規模投資，並將在稀土礦物與供應鏈韌性上展開合作。當印度持續尋求與華府對話時，與日本及其他主要經濟體深化夥伴關係，正被定位為緩衝全球貿易干擾並開啟新產業機會的關鍵。
India’s AI Talent Crunch Drives Salaries to Record Highs
印度 AI 人才短缺推高薪資至歷史新高
India’s artificial intelligence sector is facing a severe skills shortage, with just one qualified engineer available for every ten Generative AI roles, according to TeamLease Digital’s latest report. The gap is reshaping the job market, driving salaries for Generative AI and MLOps engineers up to Rs 58–60 LPA, while cloud and cybersecurity roles are also witnessing double-digit hikes. In contrast, legacy roles such as IT support have stagnated at Rs 12 LPA. The report warns that without urgent investment in upskilling, the demand-supply mismatch could derail the country’s digital growth, especially with cloud computing already facing a 55–60% shortfall.
The boom is also creating new job hubs beyond Bengaluru and Hyderabad, with Tier-2 cities gaining prominence as Global Capability Centres (GCCs) expand. GCCs are projected to generate 1.2 million jobs by 2027 and already report 40% female participation, surpassing industry averages. With India’s digital economy expected to grow twice as fast as the overall economy and account for nearly 20% of GDP by 2029–30, the report highlights the urgency of skilling in frontier areas such as AI compliance, AR/VR, and risk operations to sustain momentum.
小編點評：印度 AI 產業正面臨嚴重的人才缺口，推動生成式 AI 與 MLOps 工程師薪資達歷史新高，而傳統 IT 職位則停滯不前，雲端運算也存在 55–60% 的缺口。隨著全球能力中心（GCCs）擴展至二線城市、印度數位經濟正快速成長並朝 GDP 20% 邁進，前沿科技領域的技能提升亟為必要，以維持就業與增長。
Reliance Launches ‘Reliance Intelligence’ to Drive AI and Deep Tech Growth
信實工業推出「Reliance Intelligence」推動 AI 與深科技發展
Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani announced the formation of a new wholly-owned subsidiary, Reliance Intelligence, at the company’s Annual General Meeting on Friday (August 29, 2025). The new entity will focus on building India’s next-generation AI infrastructure through gigawatt-scale, AI-ready data centres in Jamnagar, powered by green energy and designed for national-scale training and inference. Ambani said the subsidiary will also foster global partnerships, combining Reliance’s domain expertise with international tech companies and open-source communities to ensure resilient supply chains, performance leadership, and India-first compliance in AI.
Beyond infrastructure, Reliance Intelligence will deliver affordable AI services tailored for consumers, small businesses, and critical sectors like education, healthcare, and agriculture. It also aims to attract world-class talent across research, engineering, and product design. Ambani further announced an expanded partnership with Google to integrate Reliance’s large-scale execution capabilities with Google’s cloud and AI technologies, enabling developers, start-ups, and enterprises to innovate more securely and at scale.
This development offers international firms opportunities to co-develop AI solutions, collaborate on data centre ecosystems, and tap into India’s rapidly growing digital market. It also signals increasing competition in the AI and cloud space in Asia, where multinational companies will need to adapt to India-first compliance and affordability-driven business models.
小編點評：信實工業推出全資子公司 Reliance Intelligence，在 Jamnagar 建設以綠能供電的 GW 級 AI 數據中心，並提供跨教育、醫療、農業等領域的平價 AI 服務，同時推動「India-first」合規與全球合作。隨著與 Google 的合作擴展，這項舉措為國際企業共同開發 AI 解決方案打開大門，也顯示亞洲雲端與深科技領域的競爭日益激烈。
India Opens First Semiconductor OSAT Pilot Line in Gujarat
印度在古吉拉特邦啟用首個半導體 OSAT 試產線
India inaugurated one of its first end-to-end Semiconductor OSAT (Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test) Pilot Line facilities in Sanand, Gujarat, marking a significant step in its ambition to become self-reliant in chip design and manufacturing. The facility, launched under the India Semiconductor Mission, will handle chip assembly, packaging, testing, and post-test services, a crucial stage before full-scale commercial production. Backed by CG Semi—a joint venture of CG Power (Murugappa Group), Renesas Electronics, and Stars Microelectronics—the G1 plant involves an investment of ₹7,600 crore ($870 million) and has a capacity of 0.5 million units per day, with the upcoming G2 facility set to scale this to 14.5 million units daily by 2026. Together, they are expected to generate over 5,000 jobs.
The new plant features advanced equipment, in-house reliability labs, and automation systems to meet international quality standards, positioning Gujarat as a semiconductor hub. The government is also addressing the global shortage of chip professionals by partnering with 270 universities and providing advanced semiconductor design tools, which have already enabled 20 chips to be fabricated locally. The project is seen as vital for sectors such as automotive, defence, infrastructure, and IoT, aligning with India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision of reducing import dependence and enhancing technological sovereignty. This development creates opportunities for non-Indian companies to collaborate in semiconductor packaging, equipment supply, and R&D, while also signaling India’s emergence as a competitive alternative hub in the global semiconductor supply chain.
小編點評：印度已在古吉拉特邦啟用首個端到端半導體 OSAT（委外封測）試產線，投資額 7,600 億盧比，由 CG Semi（包含 CG Power、瑞薩電子與 Stars Microelectronics 合資）支持，目標強化晶片自給自足並創造逾 5,000 個工作機會。憑藉先進設施、大學合作與本地晶片製造的成長，這一計畫將印度定位為新興半導體樞紐，並吸引全球在封裝、設備與研發領域的合作。
Trai Plans Refurbished Device Scheme to Boost Digital Inclusion, Tackles Cybercrime Surge
印度電信監管局計畫二手機裝置方案，推動數位普惠並打擊網路犯罪
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) is exploring a scheme to distribute refurbished smartphones and laptops to underserved users, aiming to bridge the digital divide despite India’s 1.2 billion mobile connections and rapid 5G rollout. The initiative, inspired by similar efforts in the UK and Vodafone Group, could help reach the 250 million people still dependent on basic feature phones while also addressing India’s mounting e-waste problem, which totals 1.75 million tonnes annually. Alongside this, Trai is updating outdated interconnect regulations for IP-based networks and reviewing spectrum pricing to strengthen India’s telecom framework.
The push for digital inclusion comes amid a sharp rise in cybercrime, with losses exceeding Rs 22,845 crore in 2024 and continuing at about Rs 1,000 crore per month in 2025. Regulators and telecom operators are deploying AI-driven tools to block fraudulent connections, detect spoofed calls, and educate citizens about scams, with platforms like Sanchar Saathi enabling millions of fraud reports. Industry leaders stressed that digital trust is critical for sustaining financial and digital growth, urging a whole-of-ecosystem approach to online safety. This development highlights opportunities for non-Indian companies in device refurbishment, e-waste management, and cybersecurity solutions, as India’s digital inclusion drive and security push could reshape market dynamics and partnerships across the global telecom and technology sectors.
小編點評：印度電信監管局（Trai）計畫推出翻新裝置方案，為弱勢用戶提供智慧型手機與筆電，以推動數位普惠，同時處理印度每年 175 萬噸的電子垃圾問題，並在 5G 快速擴張之際更新過時的電信規範。隨著網路犯罪損失已超過 22,845 億盧比，AI 驅動的詐欺偵測與「Sanchar Saathi」等平台正強化數位信任，為全球在裝置翻新、資安與電信合作方面創造新機遇。