Cheers to our trade diplomacy !!!!

Cheers to our trade diplomacy, for pulling off five significant FTA agreements in twelve months, with the UK, EU, Oman, New Zealand, and the US!!

More such successes of our trade diplomacy, can be expected going forward!!

These targeted partnerships aim to boost exports, attract investment, and secure supply chains by linking India, with key global markets and diversifying its economic relationship

The watchwords should now be "meticulous implementation and consistent monitoring" of the provisions in these deals, jointly with our respective FTA partners.

Yes, a key aspect which we and our respective FTA partners need to be sensitive about, is that, at the end of it, it would be our respective domestic constituencies, which would be the 'final judges' of the success of such deals. No political establishment can afford to overlook this vital fact.

Once, we do get a 👍 from our respective domestic constituencies, we with our FTA partners can make great strides furthering the scope of such agreements, to include those sectors, which have been left out right now, due to the sensitivities involved.

That, in the ultimate analysis, we can aspire to further strengthen the WTO, to ensure a rules-based, and globally beneficial trade environment, would certainly not be an utopian vision. 👍 😊

New branding for Q-comm platforms

Mercifully, the Q-comm platforms have decided to do away with the "10 minute delivery" branding, courtesy the intervention of the Union Labour Ministry. Yes, this was a pioneering disruption in the retail segment, which did catch the imagination of the consumers. Prompt/Instant gratification, gradually became a hygiene factor, from being that "WOW" factor, in the initial days of such delivery platforms. But, the "10 minute delivery factor", was not really any 'sine qua non', where the platform preferences of the consumers were concerned. Delivery in 'X minutes', or even an hour or more, with prior intimation to the consumers concerned, was certainly not any "dissatisfying factor". Now, the new branding by such platforms could be -"delivering responsibly and safely". It is indeed a sad state of affairs to see some of the delivery agents, on their e-bikes and without the critical prospective gear like a helmet trying to hurriedly zig-zag on the roads, just to meet the promised deadlines for delivery, thereby exposing themselves to immense risks. This needs to be curbed at all costs. Q-comm platforms could invite expressions of interest from their partners selling their wares on these platforms, to sponsor helmets and other protective gear, and allowing co-branding on such gears, besides a giving them prominence on their platforms. That such an idea would also have its positive ramifications, on other commuters on the roads, by imbibing safe and responsible driving habits, is only too obvious. 👍 😊

Welcoming 2026

As we get-set to welcome 2026, here's wishing all of you and your loved ones, a very happy and prosperous 2026 👍 😊

With tech changing our lives at a "breath-taking" pace, the two watchwords for any individual or an organization should be - resilience and adaptability.

Yes, AI in various formats and applications continues to dominate the print and digital media, with some even wondering if it's akin to the dot-com frenzy of the late 90's, only to burst in the year 2000. But fact of the matter remains, that like dot com, which matured into serious business later on, and continues till date, the frenzy around AI may moderate, but will continue to influence our lives in meaningful ways.

Now, to what extent do we need to be concerned or excited about AI, will solely depend on the extent of our "natural intelligence" used to create, train, and sustain, the various AI models, aimed to make us better informed, more productive, and more creative, in our day-to-day lives.

Let's welcome 2026, with such an excitement 👍 😊