Amazon eyes $2 billion stake in Bharti Airtel
The planned investment, if completed, would mean Amazon acquiring a roughly 5 per cent stake based on Bharti Airtel’s current market value.
Amazon creates 50,000 temporary jobs in India
The temporary hires would function out of its fulfilment centers in India as part of their delivery network. E-commerce giant Amazon will hire 50,000 temporary workers to meet a surge in online shopping in India. The temporary hires would function out of Amazon India’s fulfilment centers as part of their delivery network, the company said while reiterating its commitment to India’s workforce, which in recent times have faced job cuts due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These temporary associates will work [...]
Amazon enters Indian food delivery market
The e-commerce giant launched its food delivery service, called Amazon Food, in select parts of Bengaluru. Amazon forayed into food delivery segment in India to diversify its business. The e-commerce giant launched its food delivery service, called Amazon Food, in select parts of Bengaluru. The firm has been planning to enter the segment for a long time and piloted in few cities. With select pilots in Bengaluru, the company is looking to provide ‘contactless delivery’ of food from local restaurants, [...]
Amazon eyes stake in Future Retail
Jeff Bezos-led Amazon may buy 49 per cent stake in Future Retail. E-commerce giant Amazon is likely to acquire a significant stake in Future Retail as the debt-ridden Indian retailer battles cash crunch. The US online retail giant is in discussion with Kishore Biyani-led Future Group over the potential stock purchase. Amazon could raise its holdings in the retailer to as much as 49 per cent. The discussions are at a preliminary stage and the companies can decide against any [...]
India sends out a loud message: Follow the law
Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal’s rebuke of Amazon chief Jeff Bezos, during his recent visit to India, needs to be seen in the context of the e-commerce giant’s alleged predatory and anti-competitive practices that threaten the livelihoods of millions in India’s largely unorganised retail sector. Highlights: Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal’s criticism of Amazon chief Jeff Bezos was an unprecedented move. The rebuff from the government and the traders’ protests come at a time when India’s anti-trust regulator, the Competition [...]
India’s e-commerce policy caught between a rock and a hard place
India’s Draft E-Commerce Policy has set off a fierce debate in India about discounts, control and, most importantly, data security. The Indian government is reworking the Draft E-commerce Policy it had released earlier following criticism mainly from foreign players and several independent analysts. In particular, the draft drew criticism for its alleged bias in favour of protectionism and for making the domestic RuPay card, promoted by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the mandatory payments gateway. It had also [...]
Cross-fertilising British and Indian talent can develop a new tradition of telling Indian stories to a global audience
A renowned British filmmaker believes that Indian stories, lensed through the UK, can create a global impact. The disruptors have arrived. The world of the media is being turned on its head. Traditional television broadcasters are under threat, as is the theatrical cinema business. There has been much said and written about the arrival of the global streaming services Netflix and Amazon into India, with their pockets stuffed full of dollars and hushed talk of unprecedented programme budgets. The promise [...]
Global giants eye Indian market
Foreign investors pump in funds across different sectors. Amazon invests $385mn in India operations Amazon, the world’s largest e-commerce player, has invested $385 million in its Indian operations, which completed five years in July. The fresh infusion of funds comes months after the US-based retail giant Walmart acquired Amazon's Indian rival, Flipkart. Amit Agarwal, Country Head and Senior Vice President, Amazon India said recently that the parent would not hold back from further investments in the Indian operations. The investments were [...]
Digital India can win the economic nationalism race
India has an opportunity to take a leadership role in technology and innovation in a changing global landscape, writes a tech expert. Economic nationalism has become the order of the day in many western economies. Given this backdrop, what are the opportunities for India, in terms of technology and innovation? In this article, I explore that while such sentiment may pose challenges, it also presents an opportunity for India, and despite Brexit, there is significant opportunity for research and innovation [...]
Mobile handset market in India
Digital India in sync with Make in India will enable local innovation in the mobile phone market, writes a telecom analyst. Indian mobile phone demand was catalysed by the entry of international brands like Samsung and Nokia during 2006-2010. The market at the time was predominantly driven by feature phones. The scenario changed fast with the introduction of Android phones by international brands in 2009 and later by local brands since 2010. The advent of smartphones propelled mobile phone growth [...]