Indian Trade Minister Goyal announced the next round of trade pact negotiations between India and Canada, starting October 5

Asiana Fund, the investment platform of Dani Family Office, and Taiwanese venture firm JC Capital have announced the creation of a fund totaling INR 1000 crore. This fund is designed to support growth-stage companies in India operating in the fields of advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, materials, and defense industry.

A joint statement from the two firms specified that the Asiana-JCC Advanced Manufacturing & Innovation Fund includes a principal capital of INR 600 crore and a greenfield option of INR 400 crore. The fund intends to invest in intellectual property-based companies across advanced manufacturing and robotics, semiconductors and computing, materials and sustainable development, as well as aerospace and defense sectors.

The plan is to attract between 12 and 15 growth-stage companies, primarily at Series A and Series B stages, with provisions made for subsequent investments.

Asiana Fund, established in 2017 by Jalaj Dasani, is an investment platform focused on India and supported by the Dasani family, who are co-founders of Asian Paints. This platform has already directed over INR 700 crore into 11 private equity deals.

JC Capital, founded by Jim Chen in 2019, has invested over INR 1000 crore in 30 companies involved in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and clean technologies.

Jalaj Dasani stated that India has reached a point where it can not only produce but also develop products, create its own intellectual property, and form companies capable of competing in global markets. He emphasized that the partnership with JC Capital aims to bring Taiwan's deep technological knowledge in semiconductors and electronics to Indian companies, helping them enter global markets and working with entrepreneurs to build strong technology enterprises from India.

In addition to providing capital, the fund will facilitate technology and know-how transfer, connect companies with global supply chains and strategic partners, and advise founders on strategy, management, production scaling, and international expansion.

The partnership will also leverage JC Capital's network of corporate investors and partners in the US, Japan, Taiwan, and Malaysia. Over 80 percent of these investors are corporate limited partners, which will provide portfolio companies access to technological partners, supply chains, and international markets.

T-Mobile, the second-largest telecommunications operator in the US, and Reliance Jio, a company preparing for an IPO, have announced the launch of the world's first 5G Standalone (SA) roaming connectivity. This capability became possible through compatibility with Syniverse, as stated in an official announcement on Monday.

This agreement allows T-Mobile customers to use the Jio 5G SA network while traveling in India, and Jio customers to connect to the T-Mobile 5G SA network while in the US. Previously, Indian operators, including Jio, had agreements for 4G roaming with global carriers, which were offered to users through special packages.

T-Mobile emphasized that 5G SA roaming provides higher data transfer speeds, lower latency, and a more reliable connection. This paves the way for the implementation of revolutionary applications in the Internet of Things (IoT), real-time communications, and immersive technologies that depend on stable, high-performance global connectivity.

Executive Comments

Ankur Kapoor, T-Mobile's Director of Network Operations, stated: 'This is a monumental step for global wireless connectivity, and T-Mobile is proud to lead it. We started this journey back in 2020, laying the foundation for the future of 5G Standalone, and today we continue this leadership in partnership with Jio India on the global stage. Move from one country to another, and your 5G experience will be just as seamless—whether you are streaming, sharing travel videos, or using business applications. That is the breakthrough potential of this technology.'

Mark Yarkoski, Head of International Network Interconnect, Partnerships, and Services at Jio, noted: 'This is a transformative phase and something more than just roaming—it's about what becomes possible when two leading 5G Standalone networks work together. T-Mobile and Jio are laying the groundwork for a new generation of interconnectivity and services, from differentiated consumer and enterprise experiences to AI-powered services, utilizing the unique capabilities of 5G Standalone. This is the future of 5G SA: seamless, compatible, and built to unlock new value.'

John Wick, Product Director at Syniverse, expressed pride in the company: 'Syniverse is pleased to help realize this industry-first milestone in 5G Standalone roaming, demonstrating how secure interconnection and advanced mediation can make next-generation roaming commercially viable globally.' He added that the company was able to support all 5G-ready customers from the testing phase to production as new operators joined.

The German multinational chemical company BASF is at an advanced stage of feasibility study for establishing a methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) production complex in the state of Gujarat.

The company has acquired industrial land in Dahaj for potential investments through its Indian subsidiary, BASF India Polyurethanes Private Limited. The final investment decision will depend on the results of the feasibility study and obtaining all necessary permits.

MDI is a crucial raw material for the production of polyurethane products, which are used in building insulation, refrigeration equipment, automotive components, furniture, and consumer goods.

Stefan Kotrade, a member of the Executive Board and Technical Director of BASF SE, noted that India represents one of the most attractive growth markets globally, with high demand expected across various sectors.

He added that the company is focusing on investments that strengthen its core business areas and create long-term value. According to Kotrade, potential investments in India would allow the company to expand its production capacity in a key growing market and enable the servicing of customers in India and neighboring regions using locally produced MDI.

BASF, whose annual sales amount to approximately 60 billion euros, currently has MDI production facilities in locations such as Geismar (USA), Antwerp (Belgium), Chunchin and Caojing (Shanghai) in China, and Yosu (South Korea).

BASF India Ltd already has several manufacturing sites in India, including an MDI separation complex and polyurethane production at its integrated chemical complex in Dahaj.

Kotrade emphasized that as urbanization, infrastructure development, and industrial activity accelerate in India, the demand for high-performance materials will grow.