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India.com
a day ago
- Business
- India.com
PM Modi's 8-Day Ambitious Global Tour Begins July 2 – What He Hopes To Achieve Across 5 Nations
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is packing for what could be the longest diplomatic journey of his decade-long premiership. Five countries. Eight days. Thousands of kilometres. A tour that promises more than handshakes and speeches, this is about placing India at the heart of the Global South's rising story. From the mineral-rich heartlands of Africa to the energy corridors of Latin America, Modi's route is carefully chosen. His first five-nation circuit in 2016 had the charm of high-level symbolism. This one feels strategic, calculated and heavier in ambition. Ghana PM Modi is landing in Ghana on July 2. No Indian prime minister has stepped onto Ghanaian soil in over three decades. This stop is not ceremonial. Ghana holds reserves of bauxite, manganese and lithium – minerals the world is racing to secure. India wants in. Vaccine development is also on the table. New Delhi is proposing a regional biomedical hub, combining India's pharmaceutical muscle with West Africa's rising demand. The prime minister will also speak at Ghana's parliament and meet thousands from the Indian diaspora – many of whom are now part of the country's economic backbone. Trinidad and Tobago July 3. Port of Spain. The visit carries emotional weight. This marks the 180th anniversary of the arrival of Indian workers to the Caribbean. For many, this trip is more than diplomacy, it is a return of bloodlines. Both the president and prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago are of Indian origin. That adds to the atmosphere. PM Modi is expected to speak at a special session of parliament and pay homage to a relationship rooted in history and cultural memory. Talks will include collaboration in healthcare, digital technology and defence. India's support in telemedicine and digital health could revolutionise access for smaller island nations. Argentina The next is Argentina – a country with the world's second-largest reserves of shale gas. It is also home to an expanding lithium economy. India has already made its entry through KABIL, a state-run mining venture. But this visit could unlock deeper access. This is Modi's first one-on-one with President Javier Milei. They come from very different worlds – politically and ideologically – but both understand the value of strategic mineral diplomacy. Energy, agriculture and space tech will dominate the agenda. India's experience with digital infrastructure and healthcare delivery will also be offered as a blueprint for Argentina's underserved areas. Brazil Modi will land in Brazil on July 6. It will not be a brief stop. Four days are marked off. The BRICS Summit kicks off here. So do bilateral talks with President Lula da Silva. Brazil is eyeing Indian defence systems. Among them are battlefield communication kits, Garuda artillery, Akash missile shields and even Scorpene submarine support. India, in turn, sees Brazil as a key market and a partner in South-South defence innovation. The summit itself will discuss AI rules, climate goals, peace in conflict zones and the push for reforming global institutions. India is going to take over BRICS chairmanship in 2026. Modi will be setting the tone now. Namibia The final stop is Namibia. There is symbolism in ending the journey here. India has helped with cheetah rewilding. Namibia wants deeper cooperation in green energy, water tech and high-skilled vocational training. Few expect big deals here. But optics matter. Modi will meet leaders. Visit conservation zones. And perhaps most importantly, signal that India's foreign policy does not see Africa as a one-stop photo op. The Stakes PM Modi is flying into regions where India often competes with China and where partnerships are shaped by trust, technology and trade. Eight days, five countries and one message – more than influence, India wants presence, permanence, visibility and respect.
Business Insider
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Indian geologists head to Zambia to explore cobalt, copper under landmark 9,000km² deal
India has dispatched a team of geologists to Zambia to begin surveying a vast 9,000 square kilometre zone allocated for the exploration of critical minerals, including cobalt and copper. India dispatched geologists to Zambia to survey a vast area for critical minerals. The focus is on cobalt and copper exploration to support clean energy initiatives. Zambia's mineral reserves are pivotal for global energy transitions and economic partnerships. This move is part of India's accelerating efforts to secure key raw materials essential to its clean energy transition and electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing ambitions. The Indian geologists are focused on locating cobalt—a critical component in batteries for electric vehicles and mobile phones—as well as scouting for copper, which plays a vital role in power generation, electronics, and construction. According to Indian government sources cited by Reuters, the geological team will assess the mineral potential of the allocated land—an area roughly the size of Cyprus—over a multi-year program. Earlier this year, India announced plans to explore and mine critical minerals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Tanzania, and Australia. Mines Secretary V.L. Kantha Rao said the government is working with an Indian mining firm - KABIL and other partners to secure mineral assets in these countries through diplomatic missions. " We will take two to three years in doing this exploration and we hope that after exploration we will be able to get the mining rights also," Rao said. According to sources, the geological team will conduct multiple visits to the African nation during the project's duration. Upon evaluating the region's mining potential, the Indian government plans to seek a mining lease from Zambian authorities and potentially partner with private companies for the development phase. Zambia's vast mineral deposits Zambia is Africa's second-largest copper producer, trailing only the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Earlier this year, Zambia agreed to grant India exclusive rights to explore this zone. The country also holds significant reserves of cobalt and other critical minerals that are increasingly vital to the global energy transition. However, the nation's mining sector has not fully lived up to its potential in recent years. Challenges such as underinvestment, policy uncertainty, and infrastructure constraints have hindered growth and deterred major international players. Despite these obstacles, Zambia remains a key target for countries seeking to diversify mineral supply chains away from traditional markets. With renewed government efforts to attract foreign investment and modernize the mining industry, Zambia is positioning itself as a strategic hub for the exploration and export of minerals essential to the global shift toward clean energy and digital technologies. As major economies seek to reduce dependence on China and diversify supply chains, countries like India are intensifying their outreach to resource-rich African nations. Zambia, which has been courting foreign investors to revive its mining sector, views partnerships like this as key to unlocking new revenue streams and boosting domestic capacity. Last year, U.S.-based KoBold Metals, backed by billionaires including Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, announced the discovery of a major copper deposit in Zambia—an important milestone in the country's push to position itself within the global energy transition. At the same time, Zambia made strides in attracting electric vehicle (EV) investments, with Build Your Dreams (BYD), the world's largest EV manufacturer, expanding into the country through a partnership with Pilatus Electric Mobility Zambia Limited (PEM). Together, these developments signal rising investor confidence in Zambia's strategic position within the global EV supply chain, further showcasing the country's vast mineral potential and reinforcing the government's efforts to attract foreign investment aimed at reviving and expanding its mining sector.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
PM Modi to embark on longest foreign tour in 10 years: Minerals, energy and BRICS Summit on agenda
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Prime Minister Narendra Modi will begin a week-long, five-nation tour on July 2, marking his longest foreign visit in over a decade. The tour will cover Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia, with a focus on expanding India's cooperation in critical minerals , energy, and digital Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that Modi's visit will begin in Ghana. From there, he will travel to Trinidad and Tobago, followed by Argentina. He will then head to Brazil to attend the 17th BRICS Summit and conclude his tour in Namibia on July to Dammu Ravi, Secretary (Economic Relations) at MEA, the tour comes at a time when the global demand for critical minerals is rising. He said, 'In terms of critical minerals, the new technologies of the 21st century depend on them. We have to be aware of this and work on bilateral mechanisms to secure access.'Ravi highlighted the mineral wealth in Africa and Latin America and said institutions such as KABIL and National Mineral Development Corporation are actively exploring investment opportunities in MEA secy added that critical minerals, defence cooperation, and digital public infrastructure will be key discussion points during the Ghana leg of the Brazil, PM Modi will attend the BRICS Summit and hold a state visit. P. Kumaran, Secretary (East), said the visit will review bilateral ties across trade, energy, defence, healthcare, agriculture, and space. He also confirmed the signing of MoUs in renewable energy, agriculture research, and visit to Argentina will be the first by an Indian Prime Minister in nearly six decades. The two countries are expected to explore cooperation in defence production, space technology, and digital public infrastructure. Kumaran said India's experience in telemedicine and digital health solutions could help Argentina expand affordable healthcare large reserves of shale gas, shale oil, lithium, copper, and rare earth elements align with India's need for secure mineral supply chains. India's public sector miner, KABIL, has already secured concessions in Argentina since overall visit is expected to enhance India's strategic partnerships and open new channels of cooperation in sectors such as trade, energy, mining, green technology, education, health, disaster management, and digital innovation.(With inputs from ANI)
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Business Standard
11-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Best of BS Opinion: India is faced with a strategic turning point
There's a moment in every fight, every conflict, every country's economic strategy, where the shield cracks. The noise outside gets louder, the sand underfoot more uncertain. It's not just a question of survival anymore. It's what you do next. You lunge, adapt, recalibrate or you're trampled. The same test of resolve applies now across India's economic, strategic and scientific frontiers, where shields once considered strong are showing signs of stress. Like gladiators, the dent in the armour is visible and now we must choose when and where to strike. Let's dive in. China has just driven a spike into India's rare earth supply shield. With new export controls on vital metals and magnets, India's green and defence ambitions are exposed. Japan faced this once and countered swiftly with strategic deals and stockpiles. India, though, is only starting to build its moat, through ventures like KABIL and domestic processing, notes our first editorial. But these are still early moves. Without stronger regional alliances and a clear long-term plan, Indian manufacturing could be caught off guard. In space, however, India's aim is high and its resolve stronger. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is poised to soar aboard SpaceX's Falcon rocket under the Axiom-4 mission. Supported by Isro, this journey to the International Space Station will test the limits of India's readiness for manned missions, highlights our second editorial. It's a proving ground for Gaganyaan, and perhaps even future space habitats. What Shukla brings back, in terms of data, insight, and instinct, could patch the cracks before the next big lift-off. Back on Earth, the fiscal shield is looking thin again. A K Bhattacharya writes that revenue overestimation is back after a four-year break. Personal income-tax collections have missed by Rs 74,000 crore. Spending has been reined in. And while capital expenditure was protected, the crack in the armour, 6.5 per cent GDP growth, down from 9.2 per cent, can't be missed. Deep Kapuria flags another chink: the QCO regime meant to upgrade product quality is under strain. With only 769 out of 23,000 BIS standards enforced, and trade partners grumbling, India's quality crusade is caught between ambition and implementation. The solution? Less brute force, more finesse: decentralised certification, smarter MRAs, and a phased, strategic charge, not a wild swing. And when it comes to the marketing colosseum, Siddhesh Joglekar reviews Marketing Mixology: Four Essential Ingredients for Marketing Success by Ambi Parameswaran — a swift, jargon-free training manual for modern brand warriors. Less textbook, more battle guide. Whether you're a fresh grad or a founder, the book is a well-timed reminder that even when the battlefield shifts, the fundamentals of storytelling, empathy, and timing stay firm.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Exclusive-Indian state firms seek stake in SQM's lithium projects in Australia, sources say
By Neha Arora NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Four Indian state firms are in talks with Chilean miner SQM to acquire a 20% stake in its two lithium projects in Australia for $600 million, four sources said, in New Delhi's biggest effort to secure supplies of the key EV battery metal. Government-backed Khanij Bidesh India Ltd (KABIL) has partnered with Coal India, Oil India, and ONGC Videsh to seek the 20% stake in SQM's Mount Holland and Andover lithium projects in Western Australia, the sources said. The sources did not wish to be named as the deliberations were not public. SQM is the world's second-largest lithium producer. India, the world's fastest-growing major economy, has intensified efforts to secure a steady supply of lithium, anticipating a surge in demand for the EV battery metal, which is critical to reducing carbon emissions from the world's third-largest emitter. "This is so far India's biggest attempt to secure lithium supplies overseas," one of the sources said. "The due diligence is on, and the companies have expressed their interest with an initial offer." KABIL, along with the three state companies, is in the process of appointing a mergers and acquisitions adviser for the deal, the sources said. SQM, KABIL, Coal India, Oil India, and ONGC Videsh did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment. India's plans to acquire stakes in SQM's projects have not been reported previously. New Delhi formed KABIL - a joint venture between the state-owned National Aluminium Company, Hindustan Copper, and Mineral Exploration and Consultancy - a few years ago to acquire, develop, and process strategic minerals overseas for use in India. India has recently stepped up efforts to secure overseas agreements for accessing critical minerals in resource-rich nations like Argentina, Australia, and Chile. New Delhi is also exploring an initial agreement with cobalt-rich Congo. Last year, KABIL signed an exploration and development agreement with a state-owned firm in Argentina for the exploration and mining of five lithium blocks. Amid growing energy needs, India is trying to encourage EV production to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. EV sales in India accounted for just 2.5% of the 4.3 million cars sold in 2024, but their 20% growth rate outpaced the overall car market's 5% growth. Analysts expect sales to double in 2025 from 100,000 units in the previous year, mainly due to new launches.
