The RBI’s 50 bps cut in repo rate, following the 25bps cut each in February and April, along with 100bps reduction in CRR is bold, timely and progressive given India’s growth momentum. This will enhance liquidity and spur credit growth as India’s GDP growth rose to a four-quarter high of 7.4% in Q4FY25, placing India as the fastest growing major economy. With retail inflation in the comfort zone, a deep cut in rate and liquidity measure will spur consumption and accelerate India’s growth. Both these measures will ensure faster transmission of rate cut so that the new homebuyers are cushioned from the impact of rising housing prices and affordable housing segment also gets a fillip as even a slight reduction in home loan rates impacts buying decisions.
According to PropEquity, housing sales in India’s top 9 cities, has been witnessing a YoY decline, falling from 3% growth YoY in Q1 2024 to (-)20% in Q1 2025.
The PropEquity data also suggests that supply of homes in affordable and mid-income category (Rs 1 crore and below) fell by 36% in last two years (2022-24) in top 9 cities. In contrast, the supply of homes priced Rs 1 crore and above have risen by 48% in the last two years.
Mr. Sameer Jasuja, Founder & CEO, PropEquity:
The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) cut in the repo rate by 50 basis points — following cuts of 25 basis points each in February and April — and the reduction in the cash reserve ratio (CRR) by 100 basis points is a bold, timely and progressive move given India’s growth trajectory.
The move will boost liquidity and stimulate credit growth, as India’s GDP growth rose to a four-quarter high of 7.4% in Q4 FY25, making India the world’s fastest-growing large economy.
With retail inflation in comfortable territory, this deep cut in interest rates and liquidity measures will boost consumption and further accelerate India’s growth momentum. Both these measures will ensure that the benefits of the interest rate cut reach the customers quickly, thereby cushioning the impact of rising housing prices on new homebuyers and also boosting the affordable housing sector, as even a small reduction in home loan rates influences buyers’ decisions.
According to PropEquity, housing sales have declined in the top 9 cities of India. It increased by 3 percent in the first quarter of 2024, which has reached a decline of 20 percent in the first quarter of 2025.
According to data from PropEquity, the supply of homes in the affordable and mid-income category (Rs 1 crore and less) has fallen by 36 per cent in the top 9 cities during the last two years (2022-24). In contrast, the supply of homes priced at Rs 1 crore and above has increased by 48 per cent in the last two years.
Mr. Ankur Jalan, CEO, Golden Growth Fund (GGF) , a category II Real Estate focused Alternative Investment Fund (AIF):
The three consecutive reductions (100bps) in repo rate and 100 bps cut in CRR are a welcome move by RBI to spur consumption demand and economic growth in view of the global uncertainties, growth acceleration and decline in inflation. However, with expectations of further cuts in repo rate in FY26, the consequent decline in fixed deposit rates, currently under 7.5%, will disincentivize savers and HNI/UHNI investors, prompting them to look for potentially high return asset class like Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) which not just has regulatory oversight but also offers risk diversification and high returns.
Mr. Ankur Jalan, CEO, Golden Growth Fund:
Given the global uncertainties, pick-up in growth and fall in inflation, the successive cuts in repo rate by 100 basis points and CRR by 100 basis points are welcome moves by the RBI, which will boost consumption and economic growth.
However, with further cuts expected in FY26, fixed deposit interest rates (which are now below 7.5%) could fall further, which could lead to a loss of interest from savers and large investors (HNIs/UHNIs) who may be tempted to move to higher-return options such as Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), which are considered safe, diversified and offer better returns.
Vijay Harsh Jha, founder and CEO of property brokerage firm VS Realtors :
India’s economy is poised for a strong growth in FY26. The RBI’s three consecutive cuts in repo rate of 100bps to 5.5% and 100 bps reduction in CRR aligns with its vision to support the growth momentum amid declining inflation by making loans affordable and enhancing liquidity. India’s housing sector, though, have shown some weaknesses for the past couple of quarters, RBI’s decision on repo rate cut and CRR reduction will help maintain the momentum in the housing sector.
Vijay Harsh Jha, Founder & CEO, VS Realtors:
India’s economy is poised for robust growth in the financial year 2025-26 (FY26). Three consecutive 100 basis point cuts in the repo rate (now 5.5%) and a 100 basis point reduction in the CRR reflect RBI’s vision to sustain growth momentum by making credit accessible and increasing liquidity amid declining inflation.
Although India’s housing sector has shown some weakness in the last few quarters, the decision to cut repo rates and reduce CRR will help maintain the momentum in the sector.
New Delhi, India, 06 June 2025 — Arya.ag, India’s largest and only profitable grain commerce platform, announces the appointment of Priyanka Seth Wadhera as Group Chief Financial Officer, effective May 2025.
Priyanka Seth Wadhera
Priyanka brings over 23 years of rich financial leadership experience across FinTech, NBFCs, and global banking institutions, with deep expertise in Finance, Treasury, Compliance, and Risk Management. Prior to Arya.ag, she served as Group Chief Financial Officer at Indifi Technologies, where she successfully raised over ₹430 crore in equity, led its transition to profitability, and strengthened its financial and investor frameworks. She has also held senior roles at Clix, Barclays, Religare, Citi, and PwC, gaining deep expertise across diverse financial environments.
Her appointment comes at a pivotal time as Arya.ag strengthens its financial systems to support scalable growth, enhance capital efficiency, and deepen its reach across India’s agricultural value chains. As the company expands its product and service footprint into new regions, scales its embedded finance offerings, and explores partnerships to build more resilient post-harvest infrastructure, it is entering a critical phase of growth. Strengthening internal controls, managing capital with discipline, and building a finance function to support these ambitions will be key priorities for this growth.
“Arya.ag is addressing fundamental challenges in agriculture through technology and market-linked solutions,” said Priyanka Seth Wadhera. “The opportunity to contribute to a company that sits at the intersection of impact and scale is deeply meaningful. I look forward to working with the team to strengthen financial systems, drive performance, and support long-term value creation.”
“Priyanka has worked across both regulated institutions and high-growth businesses,” said Prasanna Rao, Co-founder and CEO, Arya.ag. “Her structured approach to finance and experience in building strong teams and systems will be valuable as we scale further.”
Priyanka is a Chartered Accountant and a graduate of Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi University. She has led finance functions across companies of varied size and complexity and brings a strong understanding of financial discipline and cross-functional execution.
As widely anticipated, the RBI decided to reduce the repo rates by 50 bps (to 5.5%) to the backdrop of moderating inflation in the country. This is the third consecutive time this year that the apex bank has cut the repo rates. This effectively lowers the cost of borrowing, making home loan EMIs easier on the pocket and thereby directly improving affordability for buyers. This can potentially boost demand in the Indian real estate sector, especially in affordable and mid-income segments. Affordable housing faced the sharpest pandemic fallout, with sales and new launches shrinking in the top 7 cities.
ANAROCK data shows that affordable housing sales share plummeted from 38% in 2019 to 18% in 2024, while its supply share dropped from 40% to 16% in the same period. However, a 19% dip in unsold stock hints at sustained demand led by end-users. It will also lower developers’ borrowing costs. It is sincerely hoped that banks pass on the benefits of this move seamlessly to borrowers.
The reduction in the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) will help boost liquidity in the banking system, which means that banks have more funds to lend. Developers will be able to access more capital for their projects, and this can positively impact project completion timelines. It also gives banks the option to reduce home loan interest rates, which will have again positively impact sentiment in the affordable and mid-income segments.
Nevertheless, these positive impacts may be partially dampened by the ongoing global trade tensions and tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, which have increased the cost of imported construction materials and created economic uncertainty. We may see some impact on the demand for luxury and commercial projects, and developer margins may be squeezed.
While the rate cut is a strong positive for real estate, especially for affordable housing, much now depends on how well it can adapt to higher input costs and ongoing global uncertainties. Continued policy support and a shift to domestic sourcing could be critical for sustained growth.
India – June 06th 2025 – embedUR systems, a leader in embedded software and Edge AI solutions, has developed an Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Sensing Edge AI solution with NXP® Semiconductor’s Trimension™ NCJ29D6 platform. This technology powers gesture-based control, such as hands-free trunk opening for cars, and extends to advanced sensing applications in automotive and beyond.
NXP’s Trimension NCJ29D6 is a fully integrated, low-energy UWB transceiver IC designed for secure ranging and radar applications in automotive environments. It supports Digital Key functionality for seamless, hands-free vehicle access while also enabling radar-based applications, such as Child Presence Detection (CPD) and kick-sensing for easy trunk access. By leveraging ranging and radar capabilities in a single chip, the Trimension NCJ29D6 maximizes system value and reduces overall cost.
embedUR systems optimized a lightweight and efficient UWB Gesture and Motion Recognition Model to work with NXP’s Trimension NCJ29D6, allowing for real-time gesture detection at a compact model size of just 215 KB.
Enhancing Experiences with UWB AI
This UWB-powered AI model allows for intuitive, touch-free vehicle interactions, and enables new affordable opportunities all running on the Edge, such as:
Touch-Free Trunk Opening – Open the trunk with a wave of a hand or foot.
Parking Assistance – Start/stop automated parking maneuvers using gestures.
Beyond automotive, this technology can be adapted for consumer electronics, industrial automation, and smart home applications, enabling touch-free user interactions across multiple industries.
Optimized AI for UWB Sensing Applications
embedUR systems specializes in embedded AI on the Edge, model optimization, and real-time processing on power-efficient, low-memory edge devices. The combination of secure ranging and radar support in the Trimension NCJ29D6 provides a unique foundation for advanced AI-driven sensing applications. By leveraging this platform, embedUR delivers robust and efficient UWB gesture recognition for a range of use cases.
“With our expertise in embedded AI and UWB technology, we are delivering practical, hands-free interaction solutions that enhance safety and convenience,” said Eric Smiley, VP of Business Development at embedUR systems. “This project demonstrates how UWB, combined with optimized Edge AI models, can help create advanced sensing applications for automotive and beyond.”
Michael Leitner, General Manager, Secure Car Access at NXP Semiconductors, confirms: “The knowledge of embedUR in wireless sensing and efficient implementation of data processing on edge devices positions embedUR to fully leverage the capabilities of our Ultra-Wideband (UWB) devices. EmbedUR demonstrated very positive results in UWB-based gesture sensing and we are looking forward to further applications that embedUR is able to address based on our UWB IC.”
Driving Edge AI Acceleration
With over two decades of expertise in embedded systems and wireless technologies, embedUR has delivered AI-powered solutions across automotive, industrial, and IoT markets. embedUR has developed a range of Edge AI applications, such as a real-time image segmentation model running on an Arm® Cortex®-M7 at under 300 KB and deployed facial recognition AI pipelines on a low-power edge device with <1MB memory footprints. embedUR’s engineers routinely optimize AI models to fit within 200–500 KB, enabling real-time inference on power and memory efficient platforms without sacrificing accuracy. This proven track record in model compression, quantization, and efficient runtime integration positions embedUR to help customers accelerate development cycles, meet strict power/memory budgets, and bring next-generation products to market faster.
Mumbai, June 06, 2025: ICICI Prudential Life Insurance has disbursed over Rs. 900 crore as loans against traditional policies to its customers in FY2025, thus providing customers with liquidity to tide over unexpected financial obligations.
The loan against policy is an extremely useful feature as it allows customers to unlock liquidity, in what is essentially a long-term plan and ensures the life cover and savings objective is not disrupted. In FY2025, the Company disbursed loans to over 42,700 customers.
Mr. Amish Banker, Chief Operations Officer, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance, said, “Life insurance is a long-term product and remaining committed for the tenure of the policy is the key to achieving the financial goal. Also, we also understand that customers may face liquidity challenges and therefore urge our customers to avail the loan feature. This will not only enable them to meet short term liquidity need but also ensure the long-term savings plan is uninterrupted. Customer can avail loan up to 80% of policy’s surrender value.
All our touch points are geared to receive and process loan against policy requests from our customers. Notably, more than 98% loans were disbursed within 24 hours and is paperless.
Among customers availing loan facility, the digital touch points which are website and mobile app are preferred modes. 52% of our customers availed of the loan against policy through our digital touch points such as the Company website and mobile app. We have also simplified and digitised the loan repayment process, ensuring ease of management throughout the loan term for our customers.
We have seen an increasing adoption of the loan against policy feature among our customers with a 60% year-on-year increase in loan disbursals in FY2025. This also shows the commitment of customers to remain invested for the long-term to achieve the financial goals for which the product was purchased.
Notably, availing a loan against policy has no impact on the credit score of customers. Interestingly, the funds can also be utilised for premium payments, ensuring continuity of the policy and its benefits.”
India was vociferous about environmental issues and climate change at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Are they walking the talk?
Buildings in India use up 40% energy, 30% raw material, 20% water and 20% land-use; generate 40% carbon emissions, 30% solid waste, and 20% water effluents
India, with its massive and ever-growing population, is witnessing rapid economic growth. Large infrastructure and industrial projects, including highways, the rural road network, and SEZs, are obviously a necessity to accommodate this growth. However, they also raise threats to biodiversity, as cities and townships are expanding at the cost of agriculture, which in turn relies on tree cover.
Simultaneously, the changing lifestyles of Indians with rising incomes in both rural and urban areas place increasing demands on biodiversity. To find evidence of unsustainable lifestyles, we usually don’t have to look any further than our immediate neighbourhoods—or even our own homes.
To bring harmony between development and the environment, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was made mandatory in 1994 for various categories of projects—including thermal and nuclear power plants, mining, river valley, and infrastructure projects. The EIA was further revised in 2006 to make it more efficient, decentralized, and transparent.
However, even today, biodiversity in India faces threats from multiple pollution sources like improper municipal solid waste disposal, inadequate sewerage, excessive use of chemical pesticides, and mercenary use of hazardous chemicals.
Real estate developers certainly have a role to play in moderating the detrimental impact of their construction activities on the environment. They have at their disposal advancements in technology which can accelerate the supply of ‘green’ buildings in the country. Solar energy harnessing, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, waste and water recycling, and rainwater harvesting must become the order of the day. However, the onus is not just on developers—it also falls on urban planners, architects, various government bodies, and end-users of real estate to work together to achieve a better environment for future generations.
Environmental Self-regulation
The Indian real estate industry’s track record of self-regulation in environmental management has been dismal across the country. While some developers have taken the cause of sustainable development seriously, the norm is to flout the rules. For instance, despite the National Green Tribunal’s ruling to maintain a 75-meter buffer from the lakes in Bengaluru, nearly one-third of housing projects in the city ignored the rules in some way or the other. Another example in the IT capital is the contaminated Bellandur Lake which, besides factory waste, has been a preferred receptacle for construction waste.
Meanwhile, statistics reveal that more than 70% of the buildings that ought to be completed in India by 2030 have yet to see the light of day. In the UK, more than 80% of the buildings that need to be built by 2050 are already completed. This means that India will be using up its natural resources at a possibly terminal pace. The numbers related to the usage of natural resources in construction are daunting. Besides using precious water and energy, Indian cities generate massive amounts of waste.
Buildings in India use up 40% energy, 30% raw material, 20% water and 20% land-use; generate 40% carbon emissions, 30% solid waste, and 20% water effluents. With almost 70% of the building stock yet to come up, India is staring at a rather bleak future for its environment.
What Needs to Change?
The major task of India’s local governing bodies is to make their cities more inclusive, resilient, safe, and sustainable in the long run. This primarily involves implementing environment-friendly green technologies in infrastructure facilities (among others), keeping in mind that the idea behind green infrastructure is not just economic benefits but ecological harmony.
This is not impossible if enough political will drives such a mindset. Cochin airport is India’s first airport to run completely on solar power. Now recognized by the UN, its solar plant can produce 18 million units of power annually. The airport has technically been made absolutely power neutral.
Some Indian cities are also implementing transit-oriented development for future-ready urban centres. This is done by reforming land-use regulations so that developers are allowed more latitude to construct mixed-use developments and higher-density developments where appropriate.
By Dr Rohan Dutta, Associate Professor, Anant School For Climate Action, Anant National University
“Our Earth is more than just land, water, and sky. It is a complex physico-chemical system, where the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biospAhere are deeply intertwined. Every process, from the carbon cycle to ocean circulation, is part of a dynamic, balanced network. When we alter one part of this system, even slightly, the effects ripple outward. Often, these changes aren’t immediate because Earth’s systems have a large inertia, but once they respond, the consequences are profound and far-reaching.
For example, when we burn fossil fuels, we emit carbon dioxide and particulate matter into the atmosphere. While these may seem invisible or benign at first, they accumulate, altering the planet’s radiative balance, intensifying the greenhouse effect, and driving long-term shifts in climate. These changes manifest slowly, through rising global temperatures, sea level rise, and ecosystem disruptions, a phenomenon scientists refer to as a lagged response. Even more concerning is what’s known as hysteresis: where the path to damage is fast, but recovery is painfully slow, or sometimes irreversible. Antarctica’s melting ice is a clear example. Scientists now believe we’ve passed a tipping point, where natural feedbacks (like reduced albedo) will continue the melting, even if emissions are drastically reduced. The resulting sea level rise could take centuries to play out, but millennia to reverse.
This World Environment Day, let’s recognise that every action, however small, feeds into this larger system. The Earth gives us stability, sustenance, and life. In return, it asks only for awareness, restraint, and care.”
Bengaluru, India, 6th June 2025: Narayana College of Health Sciences, the educational institution run under Narayana Hrudayalaya Foundations (Trust), today launched its new logo to align with Narayana Health. The logo launch is aligned with the time (June) when the Trust was founded. The new logo was inaugurated by Dr Shetty and Ameya Shetty.
Narayana Hrudayalaya Foundations (NHF) was formed with a vision to cultivate a diverse community of healthcare workers who set the highest standards of patient care, no matter where they go. NHF Group of Colleges provide diploma, graduate, and post-graduate programs in Nursing, Physiotherapy, and Allied Sciences. The trust has come a very long way from its first batch of nursing students in 2001. Now, it operates three institutes with an annual intake of 450-500 trainees.
Trainees receive firsthand clinical exposure in world-class hospitals and are trained by renowned doctors from India and abroad. The faculty brings varied experiences and are the best in their fields. Trainees get a high-class teaching environment, adaptive to a changing environment. They work in tandem with highly trained healthcare professionals and sophisticated equipment. Key differentiator is exposure to advanced clinical facilities, laboratories, a modern reference library, established clinical research facilities, and a canteen.
Trainees are also trained in soft skills with enhanced training on communication skills. An in-house IELTS training for select students for placements. It facilitates placements as well as career guidance workshops/seminars to explore opportunities in other streams, with regular coaching to prepare for interviews/jobs.
The following institutes will now bear the new logo:
Narayana Hrudayalaya College of Nursing, Bangalore
Narayana Hrudayalaya School of Nursing, Bangalore
Narayana Hrudayalaya Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangalore
Narayana Hrudayalaya Institute of Para Medical Sciences, Bangalore
Narayana Hrudayalaya Institute of Physiotherapy, Bangalore
Narayana Hrudayalaya Foundations (NHF) College of Nursing, Mysore
Narayana Hrudayalaya Foundations (NHF) Institute of Allied Health Sciences, Mysore
Headquartered in Bengaluru, NHF derives its name from its parent, Narayana Health, which has a network of hospitals that strive to provide affordable, world-class healthcare to all.
Dubai, UAE – 05 June 2025 — Dubai is rapidly solidifying its position as a premier global hub for higher education, underpinned by strong growth in student enrolment and a significant increase in the inflow of international students.
These insights were highlighted during an exclusive, high-level briefing, hosted by L.E.K. Consulting’s Global Education Practice in Dubai, which convened senior stakeholders, policymakers, and higher education leaders to discuss Dubai’s accelerating transformation into a world-class higher education destination. The event featured key perspectives from the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).
According to L.E.K. Consulting’s research and analysis, Dubai presents ‘one of the most compelling growth markets globally for higher education,’ driven by key factors, including a growing high school student base, increasing demand for transnational education, the presence of globally recognised university brands, student-friendly infrastructure, and strong post-study employment pathways.
Latest figures from the KHDA highlight this strong growth momentum across the sector. More than 42,000 students are now enrolled across 41 private higher education institutions in the emirate that are licensed and regulated by the KHDA — with a ~20% increase in overall student enrolment in the 2024-25 academic year.
International student enrolment has surged by 29% compared to the previous year, now representing 35% of total enrolments in Dubai’s higher education institutions, which are licensed by the KHDA. Meanwhile, Emirati participation in international universities has also grown by 22%, underscoring Dubai’s dual appeal to both domestic and global learners. Four new international institutions opened in the current academic year alone.
The strong growth supports KHDA’s Education 33 strategy, and specifically its City of Students initiative, which aims to raise international student enrolment to 50% by 2033, transforming Dubai into a world-leading destination for quality higher education.
“Dubai’s continued growth as a global hub for higher education is testament to our leadership’s vision and the ambitious goals of the Dubai Plan 33 and its social and economic agendas and driven by our Education 33 strategy,” said Dr. Wafi Dawood, CEO of the Strategic Development Sector at the Knowledge and Human Development Authority. “We are creating new opportunities for transnational education, strengthening Dubai’s position as a city where learners, educators, and institutions from around the world can connect, collaborate, and thrive. Through E33, we are building a future where Dubai is not only a destination for quality education, but a centre of knowledge, innovation, and opportunity.”
As the demand for transnational education, upskilling, and reskilling intensifies, Dubai’s blend of strategic policy, global connectivity, and education quality continues to position it as a top-tier alternative to traditional study destinations.
“With a growing pool of graduates from our wonderful array of international schools in the city, Dubai presents a significant opportunity for international universities to meet the evolving needs of both local and international students,” said Ashwin Assomull, Partner and Head of the Global Education Practice at L.E.K. Consulting. “Amid increasing regulatory restrictions in traditional anglophone markets, Dubai’s world-class higher education infrastructure, global connectivity, favourable cost structure, and reputation for safety present unparalleled opportunities for students, operators, and investors to capitalise on this transformative growth.”
The Union of Bilateral Chambers of Commerce from Romania in India (UBCCR) proudly hosted the INRO Business Summit 2025 at the prestigious Pullman Hotel, Aerocity, marking a landmark moment in Indo-Romanian bilateral trade and investment relations.
The summit was a visionary step toward establishing a robust platform for dialogue, collaboration, and meaningful economic exchange between the two nations. It brought together dignitaries and key stakeholders from government, industry, diplomacy, and the private sector to explore shared opportunities across sectors such as manufacturing, clean energy, healthcare, food processing, digital technology, and infrastructure.
A vision shared across borders
The event was graced by an impressive line-up of esteemed guests and speakers, including Mr. Albu Alin Marius, Vice President of UBCCR; H.E. Ms. Sena Latif, Ambassador of Romania to India and Nepal; Mr. Mahesh Kumar Putta, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, India; Ms. Shieva Munjal, President, UBCCR; Shri Adarsh Shastri (Grandson of Late Former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri ji has been, ex MLA and Former CEO, Apple India & Founder of India Cellular & Electronics Association (ICEA); Mr. Vinod Rao Tandra, Director, Airbotix and Khammam BJP Lok Sabha candidate 2024; Col. Gandhi, Strategic Advisor, Airbotix Technology; and Mr. Anshumman Joshi, Chairman, Dhanvarsha Group & National President, Janhit Dal.
Mr. Albu Alin Marius, a dynamic leader with expertise in international relations, sports management, and strategic bilateral partnerships, emphasized Romania’s commitment to building sustainable ties with India. “Through innovative strategies, transparent communication, and a shared vision for development, we are laying a solid foundation for long-term Indo-Romanian partnerships. These collaborations are not only strategic but deeply impactful across education, technology, trade, and construction,” he said.
Romania’s gateway to Europe, and India’s gateway to growth
In her keynote address, Ambassador Sena Latif described the INRO Business Summit as a cornerstone of the deepening economic and strategic ties between Romania and India. She emphasized Romania’s position as a gateway to the European Union, CIS countries, North Africa, and the Middle East, inviting Indian businesses to explore Romania as a strategic launchpad for wider global access.
“The INRO Summit is not just another conference; it’s a movement,” said Ambassador Latif. “This is the first such large-scale B2B platform to bring Romanian industries to India, from wines and confectionery to high-end technology and healthcare. We aim not just to trade goods but to exchange ideas, build joint ventures, and grow together.”
She urged Indian business leaders to support the timely conclusion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, highlighting the vast potential it holds.
Member of Parliament Mr. Mahesh Kumar Putta hailed the summit as a timely initiative that underscores India’s growing global economic stature. “India has overtaken Japan to become the world’s fifth-largest economy. Our GDP growth is strong, our demographic dividend unmatched, and initiatives like Make in India, Digital India, and Startup India are laying the foundation for global partnerships,” he said.
He added that Romania’s growing interest in India is a testament to the mutual trust and opportunities that define this partnership.
UBCCR’s commitment to real-world impact
UBCCR President Ms. Shieva Munjal spoke passionately at the Business Gala, underscoring that the summit was not merely symbolic but action-driven.
“We are here to celebrate the power of cooperation,” Munjal said. “Our goal at UBCCR is simple: to connect people, turn ideas into real projects, and remove barriers to business between our two nations.”
She outlined UBCCR’s future initiatives, including structured business delegations, direct industry partnerships, and bilateral task forces focusing on clean energy, agriculture, digital innovation, and manufacturing.
Technology in focus: airbotix leads the charge
Airbotix Technology made a strong impression at the summit, represented by Mr. Vinod Rao Tandra, and Col. Gandhi. The team highlighted aerospace innovation, defense technology, and AI-driven solutions as promising areas of Indo-Romanian collaboration.
“At Airbotix, we are not just building drones or defense equipment. We are building trust, speed, and safety,” said Col. Gandhi “Romania has world-class aerospace talent and India has market depth and scale. It’s a perfect match.”
Col. Gandhi emphasized the importance of joint R&D platforms, skills development programs, and knowledge exchange to meet the demands of global security and tech advancement.
Mr. Anshumman Joshi added, “This is a great opportunity for India and Romania. This would be a milestone for having an absolutely amazing collaboration between both countries for defense manufacturing, especially in defence drones and other sectors.”
Diplomacy meets enterprise
The INRO Business Summit 2025 was more than a networking event — it was a declaration of shared ambition. Through B2B meetings, panel discussions, cultural presentations, and diplomatic dialogue, the summit highlighted the depth of opportunity and the strength of Indo-Romanian goodwill.
Tier-one companies from Romania that participated in the summit include Aviagro, Cotnari, Sergiana, Boromir, Mirdatod, Ecoferm, Casa Trimis, and Parviresin — all showcasing a diverse portfolio ranging from food and beverage to advanced agricultural and manufacturing capabilities.
A special note of thanks was extended to Mr. Paritosh Ladhani, Vice Chairman of SLMG Beverages (Coca-Cola), for his invaluable support in making the summit a success.
Costin Mandrea, CEO of Coca-Cola, said , “Platforms like the INRO Business Summit demonstrate the true potential of cross-border collaboration. Coca-Cola has always believed in creating value across communities we serve — and India and Romania together offer incredible opportunities for innovation, sustainability, and inclusive growth. We are proud to support initiatives that foster global partnerships rooted in trust and shared prosperity.”
Looking ahead
The success of the summit has set the stage for launching an Indo-Romanian Startup Exchange Program, forming bilateral task forces on agriculture, technology, and logistics, and hosting joint trade expos in Bucharest and New Delhi. With 77 years of diplomatic ties behind them, India and Romania are poised to elevate their economic cooperation to new heights.
UBCCR, under the leadership of Ms. Shieva Munjal and Mr. Albu Alin Marius, is committed to turning these conversations into tangible outcomes.
As the evening concluded with a vibrant networking gala and cultural exchange, the message was clear: the future of Indo-Romanian collaboration is not just promising — it is already in motion.
