India, Brazil Agree To Expand Trade Pact With MERCOSUR

17 Oct 2025 CW Team

During a meeting in New Delhi on 16 October 2025, Geraldo Alckmin, Vice President of Brazil and Minister of Development, Industry, Trade and Services, and Piyush Goyal, India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, reaffirmed the shared interest of India and MERCOSUR Member States in expanding their existing Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) to strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties.

Both sides recalled the Framework Agreement signed between India and MERCOSUR on 17 June 2003, aimed at fostering closer economic cooperation in line with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. They agreed that the proposed expansion should be substantial and comprehensive, covering both tariff and non-tariff issues related to trade and economic partnership.

The leaders outlined a roadmap to guide the expansion process, agreeing on the following key points:

The revised agreement should ensure that a significant share of bilateral trade benefits from tariff preferences.

The initiative must include active participation from the private sector and key stakeholders to support and sustain the negotiation process.

A technical dialogue between the Parties will be established, including the early convening of the Joint Administration Committee created under Article 23 of the PTA, to define the scope of the expansion.

The Parties will strive to conclude negotiations within one year from their formal launch.

The Brazilian side further expressed its commitment to working closely with other MERCOSUR partners to ensure that the process leads to a substantial, swift, and mutually beneficial outcome for all involved.

The meeting underscored both countries’ determination to enhance economic cooperation, diversify trade, and support the broader goal of South–South economic integration through a modernised and ambitious trade framework.

Technology

29 Jul 2026

AI-Enabled Workflows Lift Profitability and Productivity

Organisations modernising frontline workflows with artificial intelligence, automation and real-time data are reporting stronger financial performance, higher productivity and improved employee engagement, according to a global study by Zebra Technologies and Oxford Economics.The research covered 1,000 senior leaders across retail, manufacturing, transportation and logistics in the US, Mexico, the UK, Germany, India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.In transportation and logistics, 54 per cent of companies that improved picking and packing operations reported faster operational performance, wh..

India Leads Global AI Readiness but Implementation Lags

Indian companies lead global averages across all eight artificial intelligence readiness indicators tracked by JLL, but only 19 per cent have started making changes to their workplaces, according to the JLL 2026 Future of Work Survey.The study found that 77 per cent of Indian business leaders expect AI to change their office requirements, creating a 58-percentage-point gap between awareness and implementation. The survey covered more than 2,200 CEOs, CFOs and real estate leaders across 21 countries during the first quarter of 2026.Despite concerns over automation, 58 per cent of Indian leaders..

Three WOLFF Cranes Build Riyadh Cable-Stayed Bridges

Three WOLFF 180 B luffing jib cranes are supporting the construction of two cable-stayed bridges alongside the existing Wadi Laban Bridge in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The project is being developed for the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and executed by the ICRC joint venture comprising IC Ictas and Al Rashid Trading & Contracting Company.The cranes are handling lifting operations including formwork, reinforcement, concrete placement, work platforms, surveying equipment and other construction materials. Each crane is fitted with a 40 m jib, reaches a hook height of 157 m and offers a maximum ..