Now Reading: India considers green channel for European, UK investments
-
01
India considers green channel for European, UK investments
India is considering a dedicated 'green channel' to facilitate investments from European and UK companies, a mechanism designed to provide handholding and simplify government approval processes. The proposed framework is expected to…
India is considering a dedicated 'green channel' to facilitate investments from European and UK companies, a mechanism designed to provide handholding and simplify government approval processes. The proposed framework is expected to follow the model of existing Japan Plus and Korea Plus mechanisms, which fast-track investment proposals from Japanese and South Korean investors.
The initiative comes as India seeks to attract greater foreign investment from Europe and the UK, building on recent trade deals: the India-UK FTA (July 2025) and the India-EU FTA (concluded January 2026). The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), through Invest India, has run similar country-specific fast-track mechanisms since 2014, including for Germany, Italy, the EU, and Austria.
Experts quoted by Times Now noted that non-tariff measures now cost exporters more than tariffs in 88% of countries, and that poor regulatory transparency can add costs equal to a 28% tariff. India-EU trade stands at $136 billion, with the EU expecting the new FTA to double its exports to India by 2032.
Indian Opinion Analysis
India's existing plus mechanisms, such as Japan Plus, have resolved regulatory bottlenecks for specific investors rather than broad tariff reductions. The EU-UK channel, if approved, would extend this single-window model to Europe's largest economies. The real test lies at the state level, where land, environmental, and labour approvals often stall projects. Each fast-track platform typically involves a dedicated officer from Invest India and periodic review meetings. The next signal to watch is whether the DPIIT issues an official notification or sets up a formal launch date for the mechanism.
Source: timesnownews.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
