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Thai Airways is set to expand its operations significantly, with CEO Chai Eamsiri announcing the introduction of flights to four new destinations in India, including Amritsar, Jaipur, and Kochi, alongside a planned service to Pune next year. Currently operating 78 flights weekly to eight Indian cities, the airline will increase this to 100 flights this summer, enhancing frequencies to Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kolkata. The expansion will be supported by the arrival of 16 new Airbus A321Neo aircraft, featuring lie-flat business class seats, which will be deployed on routes to Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and other major cities. This growth comes amid a 15% rise in air traffic between India and Thailand, with Indian tourists constituting a significant portion of Thailand's 32.9 million foreign visitors last year. Eamsiri also highlighted plans to reinstate flights to China and introduce services to Auckland by 2026, reflecting the airline's commitment to enhancing connectivity. 
Published: Feb 03 2026, 1 pmeznews.inAir India has initiated a precautionary inspection of the fuel control switches in its fleet of 33 Boeing 787 Dreamliners following a reported malfunction on a flight from London Heathrow to Bengaluru. The airline's Senior Vice President for Flight Operations, Manish Uppal, informed pilots that the engineering team has escalated the issue to Boeing for urgent evaluation. While no adverse findings have emerged from the inspections conducted so far, Air India has urged its crew to report any defects immediately and ensure all necessary checks are completed before accepting aircraft. This heightened scrutiny comes in the wake of a tragic incident last June, where a Boeing 787-8 crash resulted in 260 fatalities, with preliminary investigations indicating a fuel supply cut shortly after take-off. Air India’s fleet comprises 26 legacy Boeing 787-8s and 7 Boeing 787-9s, including aircraft acquired from Vistara.
Published: Feb 03 2026, 3 pmeznews.inIndia's seafood exporters are optimistic following a revised tariff structure that lowers duties to 18% for exports to the United States, restoring competitiveness with nations like Ecuador, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. G. Pawan Kumar, President of the Seafood Exporters Association of India, expressed confidence that this change will boost exports, which had previously declined by 6.3% in value and nearly 15% in quantity from April to November 2025 due to a steep 50% tariff imposed in August. The US remains India's largest seafood market, with exports valued at $2.78 billion in 2024-25. K.N. Raghavan, secretary general of SEAI, noted that the new tariff levels provide a fair playing field for Indian exporters. Additionally, industry leaders highlighted that reduced tariffs would enhance access to advanced cold-chain and processing technologies, crucial for improving food safety and operational efficiency as businesses expand.
Published: Feb 03 2026, 3 pmeznews.inMoody's Ratings announced on Tuesday that the US's decision to lower tariffs on most Indian goods is a positive development for India's labour-intensive sectors, particularly gems, jewellery, textiles, and apparel, which are among the country's top export categories. Following a phone conversation between US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it was revealed that the tariff rate will decrease from 25% to 18%. Moody's noted that this trade deal is expected to boost India's goods export growth to the US, which accounts for approximately 21% of India's total goods exports in the first 11 months of 2025. However, the reduction will not impact pharmaceuticals and consumer electronics, which were previously exempt from high tariffs. Additionally, Moody's cautioned that while India has reduced its crude oil purchases from Russia, a complete shift could disrupt economic growth and lead to higher inflation due to India's status as a major oil importer.
Published: Feb 03 2026, 3 pmeznews.inGoldman Sachs has upgraded its real GDP growth forecast for India in calendar year 2026 by 20 basis points to 6.9%, attributing this positive outlook to enhanced investment sentiment and reduced trade-policy uncertainty following a recent US-India trade deal. The agreement, announced by President Trump, lowers reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods from 25% to 18%, aligning India's tariff rates more closely with those of other Asian nations. Goldman Sachs estimates that the new tariffs could provide an incremental boost of approximately 0.2 percentage points to GDP, driven by India's goods exports to the US. The report also predicts a narrowing of India's current account deficit by about 0.25% of GDP, easing pressure on the rupee through improved capital inflows. Overall, the conclusion of the trade deal is expected to bolster private investment and potentially enhance economic growth in the latter half of 2026.
Published: Feb 03 2026, 3 pmeznews.inThe shrimp industry in India is experiencing a mix of relief and concern following US President Donald Trump's announcement to reduce tariffs from 50% to 18%. This decision has been welcomed by industry leaders, including Ravi Kumar Yellanki, Managing Director of Vaisakhi Bio-Marine, who expressed optimism about the sector's recovery. However, the industry is also adapting to lessons learned from its heavy reliance on the US market, now exploring alternative export opportunities in Australia and the European Union. Farmers, while pleased with the tariff reduction, are disheartened by a simultaneous increase in feed prices by ₹4 per kg, which significantly impacts their production costs. Gopinadh, General Secretary of the district Prawn Farmers Association, highlighted that feed accounts for over 60% of their expenses, raising concerns about the additional financial burden this price hike will impose. Feed companies attribute the increase to rising raw material costs.
Published: Feb 03 2026, 2 pmeznews.inIndia's recent agreement with the United States to reduce tariffs on Indian goods from 25% to 18% is poised to significantly enhance the competitiveness of Indian exports, particularly in labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, apparel, leather, and footwear. With India's tariffs now among the lowest in the region—surpassing those of China (30-35%), Vietnam (20%), Bangladesh (20%), and Indonesia (19%)—exporters anticipate a surge in orders that had previously been delayed. Experts, including Sanjay Jain from the ICC National Expert Committee on Textiles, highlight that this shift will not only improve price competitiveness but also facilitate deeper integration into US supply chains, fostering capacity expansion and job creation. The US remains India's largest export market, with shipments valued at $86.51 billion in FY25, making this tariff reduction a critical development for the Indian economy and employment, especially for women in the workforce.
Published: Feb 03 2026, 1 pmeznews.inGold prices surged on Tuesday, with the metal rising by $227, or nearly 5%, to reach $4,887.05 an ounce, while April futures on COMEX climbed over 5.5% to $4,913.14. This rebound followed a significant correction, with gold and silver prices dropping approximately 25% and 45% from recent highs, prompting strong physical buying from investors. In India, gold gained 10% in the spot market, while silver saw a slight decline. Silver prices also soared, reaching $86.3 an ounce, driven by demand in various industries, including electric vehicles. Analysts noted that the recent volatility was exacerbated by a margin hike from CME Group, leading to panic selling. Despite the recent downturn, experts believe the long-term fundamentals for gold and silver remain strong, with potential for further gains as markets adjust to the absence of key US economic data amid a partial government shutdown.
Published: Feb 03 2026, 1 pmeznews.inThe United States remains the largest market for Indian gems and jewellery, with annual exports exceeding $10 billion. A recent reduction in US tariffs from 50% to 18% is expected to provide significant relief to exporters grappling with declining demand due to soaring gold prices. Colin Shah, Managing Director of Kama Jewelry, hailed the tariff cut as a positive development for the sector, which has faced challenges amid tariff-related uncertainties. Exports to the US have plummeted by 44% in the first nine months of the fiscal year, dropping to $3.86 billion from $6.95 billion in the same period last year. Overall, gem and jewellery exports remained stagnant year-on-year at $20.75 billion. With nearly 32% of the sector's exports directed to the US, the tariff reduction is anticipated to restore confidence among Indian manufacturers and American buyers alike, enhancing competitiveness against Asian rivals.
Published: Feb 03 2026, 11 ameznews.inIn a significant trade agreement announced on February 3, 2026, US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged to enhance agricultural exports from the US to India, aiming to reduce trade barriers and bolster economic ties. The deal, which lowers reciprocal tariffs from 25% to 18%, is seen as a strategic move to counter Russian aggression amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. US officials, including Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, hailed the agreement as a victory for American farmers and a step towards reducing a $1.3 billion agricultural trade deficit with India. Modi expressed gratitude for the deal, emphasizing the mutual benefits of cooperation between the two nations. The agreement also includes India's commitment to cease purchasing Russian oil, further aligning with US efforts to diminish support for Russia's military actions.
Published: Feb 03 2026, 11 am
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