France
(Source : Embassy of India, Paris)
Significant Trends in trade and investment
Trade – In Jan-Aug 2018, India France bilateral trade stood at € 7.3 billion (+8.7%) as compared to the corresponding period the previous year. India’s exports to France increased by 11.9% during this period with a rise in exports of following top 10 category products: mineral fuels & oils (141.28%); optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus & parts thereof (35.72%); natural or cultured pearls (15.92%); nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances (14.85%); organic chemicals (11.5%) & footwear (3.55%). However there was a drop in exports of automobiles and parts (-37.36%); & electrical machinery (-12.29%) & articles of apparel & clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted, (-2.63%) & knitted or crocheted articles of apparel & clothing accessories (-0.33%).
Meanwhile, French exports to India increased by 4.89% during the same period: Exports of following top 10 ranked products increased: optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus & parts thereof (17.16%), aircraft & spacecraft (15.7%); organic chemicals (14.51%); miscellaneous chemical products (6.86%); nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery & mechanical appliances (5%); articles of iron & steel (4.42%); plastics and articles thereof (4%). However, exports of following products decreased: electrical machinery & equipment (-23.08%); iron & steel (-16.81%); pharmaceutical products (-5.25%).
Investment – According to the ‘Business France Annual Report 2017’, a public operator supporting French investors in India and Indian investors in France, there are over 150 Indian companies operating in France (including sub-subsidiaries), employing around 7,000 people. Nineteen investments from India were recorded in 2017 (+73%), creating or maintaining 284 jobs (+66%). Indian projects often involved decision-making centres (42% of projects), including a global/European headquarters, and production/manufacturing operations (32%). Investments were mainly made in the software and IT services sector (26% of projects and 52% of jobs generated) and chemicals/plastics industry (21% of projects, 23% of jobs), while location-wise, Indian companies invested primarily in the Paris Region (Ile-de-France) (26% of projects), Nouvelle-Aquitaine (16%), Bourgogne-Franche-Comté (16%) and Hauts-de-France (16%).
Thailand
(Source : Embassy of India, Bangkok)
Tata Motors reveals turnaround plan for Jaguar Land Rover
Bangkok Post 02.11.2018
India’s Tata Motors Ltd on Wednesday announced a turnaround plan for its luxury car unit Jaguar Land Rover which has been hit hard by trade tensions between China and the US, low demand for diesel cars in Europe and worries over Brexit. Under “Project Charge” Tata Motors said it plans to cut costs and improve cash flows at Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) by 2.5 billion pounds over 18 months. JLR also plans to launch several new vehicles including the Jaguar I-Pace and the new Range Rover Defender over the next few years and will offer a hybrid or electric version of all its models by 2020. “Together with our ongoing product offensive and calibrated investment plans, these efforts will lay the foundations for long-term sustainable growth,” JLR CEO Ralf Speth said after Tata Motors reported a loss for the second-quarter.