| |AUGUST 20268Global consumer goods manufacturers reported strong demand and rising market share in India during the June quarter. This underscores India's role as a long-term growth driver and is prompting companies to increase investments in one of the world's fastest-growing consumer markets.Companies including Mondelez International, L'Oreal, Reckitt, Unilever, Nestle, and The Coca-Cola Company identified India as a key contributor to future expansion. Executives highlighted premiumization, wider distribution, affordable packs, and robust e-commerce performance. Mondelez said demand remained solid in Q2 2026 and added 100,000 stores, with CEO Dirk Van de Put calling India extremely robust. L'Oreal also reported strong first-half growth, with CEO Nicolas Hieronimus noting over 70 percent growth in the June quarter across categories and urban and rural markets. Tamil Nadu has strengthened its push to attract global capability centres (GCCs) with Switzerland's Chubb Group and Germany's Nordex Group signing agreements to establish GCCs and R&D facilities in Chennai. The state also signed a pact with the University of Western Australia to set up its first international campus in Chennai, spanning 50,000 square feet in Velachery with an investment of Rs 125 crore, creating over 200 jobs. Additionally, South Korea's MotiveLink will invest Rs 300 crore to establish a manufacturing plant in Kancheepuram, generating 1,500 jobs. Altogether, these investments are expected to create 2,920 jobs. Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay said the initiatives would boost youth opportunities and position Tamil Nadu as a global hub for GCCs, research, education, and advanced manufacturing. Qualcomm has entered a long-term agreement with BMW to supply advanced semiconductor solutions for next-generation vehicles. The partnership will see Qualcomm deliver chips for digital cockpit systems and advanced driver assistance technologies over the coming decade, reinforcing both companies' focus on automotive innovation. The deal comes amid rising competition from Nvidia and Mobileye in intelligent mobility and automated driving platforms. Qualcomm's collaboration with BMW highlights its expanding role in automotive electronics. BMW will use Qualcomm's Snapdragon Digital Chassis, including cockpit processors, system-on-chips, and AI accelerators.These technologies will power immersive in-car experiences, enhanced safety features, real-time processing, connectivity, and intelligent automation in future AI-driven vehicle platforms, supporting software integration, scalability, and improved performance across diverse vehicle segments globally and services. Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen-AI) is expected to boost labor productivity in India over the next decade, according to a Goldman Sachs report. The study estimates Gen-AI could raise annual productivity growth by around 0.4 percentage points, with gains ranging from 0.1 to 0.8 points depending on technological progress. The report notes AI will enhance workers by automating repetitive tasks and enabling a shift to higher-value roles. It projects that 4248 percent of non-agricultural jobs could be augmented, while 812 percent may face displacement, with others largely unaffected. Goldman Sachs highlighted India's past productivity gains from technology adoption, adding that AI-driven efficiencies could reduce costs, improve labor allocation, and support sustained economic growth across sectors and industries. FMCG Majors Accelerate India Expansion, Boost Retail Networks BMW, Qualcomm Collaborate to Drive Next-Gen AI Mobility Solutions Goldman Sachs Sees AI Powering India's Workforce Efficiency Tamil Nadu Attracts GCC Deals, Welcomes First Overseas University Tech MintRETAIL EXPANSION DRIVE AI ADOPTION R&D GROWTH
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