| | JANUARY, 2026192025 RECAP: 5 PUBLIC - PRIVATE ALLIANCES POWERING INDIA'S TECH by Dr. Tapan Sahoo of Maruti Suzuki and Takashi Suzuki of JETRO in the presence of Hisashi Takeuchi, the Managing Director & CEO of Maruti Suzuki.This partnership between Maruti Suzuki and JETRO aims to help Indian startups tap into Japan's innovation ecosystem and vice versa for Japanese startups to access the Indian innovation ecosystem. Furthermore, Maruti Suzuki and JETRO will work together to facilitate the participation of startups in various activities and events, connecting them with potential partners. Startups selected through Maruti Suzuki's innovation programs, such as Accelerator, Incubation, Mobility Challenge, and Nurture, will have the opportunity to join these events. Japanese startups can also engage with the Indian startup ecosystem by participating through JETRO. Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India Limited says, "Startups are key drivers of innovation and economic growth. Through our multi-format innovation programs, we have been engaging with startups in India to co-create technology-driven solutions relevant to the automobile manufacturing and mobility space."Takashi Suzuki, Chief Director General, JETRO India says, "Maruti Suzuki stands as one of the finest examples of the successful partnership between India and Japan. With this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), we are creating opportunities for even more fruitful business collaborations between our two nations. This MoU aims to foster innovation, drive economic growth, and further strengthen the deep-rooted ties between India and Japan."Microsoft Deepens Ties to India's AI EcosystemThe CEO of Microsoft, Satya Nadella, declared a strong commitment to bolstering the artificial intelligence industry in India through substantial investments in infrastructure. He emphasized the company's focus on expanding its presence in the cloud sector and providing training opportunities to millions of individuals in India to equip them for a future centered around artificial intelligence. During a Microsoft event, Nadella expressed his enthusiasm for investing in India and bringing top-notch infrastructure to the country, referring to the $ 17.5 billion investment as Microsoft's largest in Asia. He highlighted the company's rapid growth in the cloud industry across India, especially in regions like central India, West India, and South India, as well as a partnership with Jio. Nadella confirmed that a new data centre area would be operational by 2026, mentioning that it would be completely sustainable. He emphasized the importance of cybersecurity and how Microsoft processes billions of signals daily to ensure security on platforms like Azure and Windows.Following a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Nadella mentioned the government's strong backing of Microsoft's significant investment in India, which is aimed at promoting societal well-being, economic development, and overall growth. Vaishnaw stressed the progress of India's semiconductor ecosystem, mentioning that the country currently has 10 facilities under development, including two fabrication plants and eight ATMP units. CG Semi has already started pilot production, with two more facilities expected to begin operations soonLOOK BACK 2025
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