1 hr ago

India Nears Investment Pacts With Three Nations by December

India is working on investment agreements with Switzerland, Oman and the Maldives.

Officials expect the agreements could be signed by December.

The agreement talks with Oman are finished, and the Maldives deal is close.

India has also signed recent investment agreements with Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Israel.

These newer agreements can let investors seek international arbitration sooner than under India’s older rules.

The government is preparing a new template for future agreements.

It hopes the changes will help attract more long-term investment.

Gross foreign investment increased in FY26, but net investment was much smaller.

Key facts

Expected treaty partners: Switzerland, Oman and the Maldives
Negotiation status: Oman negotiations are complete; the Maldives is close; Switzerland is next.
New domestic-remedy periods: Two or three years in new agreements, potentially one year by mutual understanding.
Earlier requirement: India’s 2015 BIT model required five years of exhausting local legal remedies.
FY26 gross FDI inflows: $94.5 billion, up 17.3% from $80.6 billion a year earlier.
FY26 net FDI inflows: $7.7 billion, compared with around $1 billion in the previous fiscal year.
Other negotiations: India is negotiating with Canada and Russia; a Canada agreement could conclude by December or early 2027.

financialexpress.com · 1 hr ago