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India and South Korea have begun another round of negotiations to upgrade their existing bilateral trade agreement, with both countries aiming to deepen economic cooperation, improve market access and strengthen supply chain integration across key sectors.
The latest discussions focus on revising the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which came into force in 2010 but has faced criticism from Indian industry groups over trade imbalances and limited gains for domestic exporters. Officials from both sides are now working to address tariff barriers, rules of origin, customs procedures and investment-related concerns as part of efforts to modernise the pact.
The negotiations come at a time when Asian economies are seeking to diversify supply chains and reduce dependence on concentrated manufacturing hubs. Trade experts said an upgraded agreement could support greater movement of industrial goods, electronics components, automobiles, chemicals and machinery between the two countries.
According to officials familiar with the discussions, India is seeking improved access for sectors such as pharmaceuticals, textiles, food products and information technology services, while South Korea is expected to push for lower tariffs and easier regulatory conditions for its automobile, steel and electronics industries.
The talks are also expected to cover logistics efficiency, digital trade provisions and customs cooperation to reduce transaction costs and speed up cargo movement. Industry executives said smoother trade procedures could help businesses cut delays at ports and improve reliability in cross-border shipments.
India and South Korea have been attempting to upgrade the agreement for several years, but negotiations progressed slowly due to differences over tariff reductions and concerns related to market access. However, geopolitical shifts and changing global manufacturing strategies have added urgency to the discussions.
Bilateral trade between the two countries has expanded steadily over the past decade, although India continues to run a significant trade deficit with South Korea. Policymakers in New Delhi have repeatedly stressed the need for more balanced trade arrangements that also encourage domestic manufacturing and export growth.
Analysts said a revised CEPA could help attract additional South Korean investment into India’s manufacturing and logistics sectors, particularly in areas linked to electronics production, electric vehicles, warehousing and industrial infrastructure. Both sides are expected to continue negotiations over the coming months, with officials aiming to resolve pending issues before finalising the upgraded agreement.
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With rising concerns over maritime security, access to critical minerals, and fragile supply chains, the Quad nations pushed for deeper cooperation at the Foreign Ministersโ Meeting in New Delhi. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar stated that the Indo-Pacific must remain a driver of global growth and stability.ย The meeting takes place during a time of heightened geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, and competition over strategic infrastructure that are reshaping the Indo-Pacific region. Given this backdrop, the Quad countriesโIndia, the US, Japan, and Australiaโaimed to present themselves as an action-oriented partnership focused on security, connectivity, technology, and economic resilience.ย Jaishankar opened the meeting by stating that the Quadโs agenda would focus on the โmany challenges and opportunitiesโ before the world, especially in the Indo-Pacific. โWe have to address issues like supply chain resilience, connectivity choke points, manufacturing and resource concentrations, and gaps in critical infrastructure,โ Jaishankar said. He added that these challenges also present new opportunities for partnerships, stronger growth, and realising the full potential of technology. He emphasized that the Indo-Pacific needs stronger strategic confidence, maritime security, and reliable partnerships. โOver the past several months, our officials have advanced collaboration across key priorities, including maritime security, critical technologies, economic resilience, and humanitarian assistance,โ the External Affairs Minister noted, while recognizing โencouraging progressโ in existing initiatives.ย Referring to the shared outlook among the four nations, he commented, โAs maritime democracies, pluralistic societies, and market economies, we share the responsibility for a free and open Indo-Pacific.โย US Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned that the Quad is evolving from a consultative platform to one focused on tangible outcomes. โMy first meeting as Secretary of State was with the Quad, shortly after being sworn in. I believe this shows our commitment to this effort,โ Rubio said.ย Rubio added that recent global developments have made the Quadโs initiatives more relevant, especially regarding energy security, critical minerals, humanitarian response, and freedom of navigation.ย Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi affirmed that the Quad sends a bold message about endorsing a free and open Indo-Pacific. โIndo-Pacific nations should strengthen their resilience and capacity to shape their own future, including economic security,โ Motegi said, while calling for quicker collaboration within the Quad. ย For more such news and updates, visit CARGOCONNECT.
Frozen food exporter HyFun Foods has moved part of its export logistics network from road to rail through a new partnership with Adani Logistics and Evergreen Marine Corporation, aiming to improve supply chain efficiency and reduce transportation emissions. Under the arrangement, the company has introduced a dedicated rail freight service to transport frozen potato products from Virochannagar Inland Container Depot in Gujarat to Mundra Port for exports. Overseas shipments will be managed by Evergreen Marine Corporation, creating an integrated rail-to-port export corridor. According to the companies, each train movement is expected to replace nearly 40 refrigerated truck trips that previously handled the same cargo movement. The shift is expected to reduce fuel consumption, ease highway congestion and improve consistency in temperature-controlled transportation for frozen products. The dedicated rail service will operate within the logistics infrastructure managed by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone, which has been expanding multimodal cargo connectivity across key export hubs.ย Kamlesh Karamchandani, Group Executive Director at HyFun Foods, said, โThis collaboration will further strengthen our export capabilities by making our export operations more efficient and sustainably reliable. It also supports our vision of becoming a truly global frozen food brand.โ HyFun Foods, which exports frozen potato products to more than 40 countries, said the new corridor is expected to strengthen its international distribution network as the company scales exports further. The Gujarat-based processor has been expanding manufacturing capacity and export operations in recent years to meet rising overseas demand for frozen foods from India. The move also reflects a broader trend in Indiaโs cold-chain and export logistics sector, where companies are increasingly adopting rail-linked freight systems to lower logistics costs and improve cargo reliability for temperature-sensitive products. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates.
Amazon India has expanded health and insurance benefits for nearly 90,000 delivery associates across its India operations network, while also expanding its โAshrayโ rest centres for gig and logistics workers. The company said the enhanced coverage includes mediclaim support of up to โน1.5 lakh, outpatient department (OPD) benefits of up to โน10,000, and accident insurance coverage reaching โน10 lakh. The programme also extends wellness services to delivery workers and up to three family members, including teleconsultations, free OPD consultations, and access to international second medical opinions. Amazon stated that the benefits will be implemented across all of its last-mile delivery programmes in India. The company is also organising health camps nationwide offering eye, dental and general health check-ups for delivery personnel. Alongside the insurance expansion, Amazon is scaling up โProject Ashray,โ its network of rest centres designed for delivery workers across the e-commerce and logistics ecosystem. The company recently announced plans to increase the number of Ashray centres to 250 across India by the end of 2026. It currently operates around 100 centres in cities including Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai, with an additional 50 facilities scheduled to become operational in the near term. Amazon has also introduced mobile Ashray units, which are air-conditioned vans positioned along high-density delivery routes to provide hydration and rest support without requiring workers to travel to fixed facilities. These units offer amenities such as seating, Wi-Fi, water, electrolytes and mobile charging stations. The expansion comes as logistics and e-commerce companies face increasing scrutiny over working conditions, health support and welfare standards for gig economy workers, particularly during extreme summer conditions and peak festive demand periods. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates.
