Politics · India Bureau
India to unveil revamped bilateral investment treaty template
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said a new framework for bilateral investment treaties is poised for Cabinet approval, designed to strengthen investor protections and address gaps in the 2016 model. India has already begun deploying enhanced agreements with key Gulf and Central Asian partners.
LSN India ·
India's new bilateral investment treaty template is ready for government approval, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced on Monday, signalling a shift toward more robust investor protection standards. Developed over eighteen months, the updated framework aims to remedy shortcomings in the 2016 model and provide sharper safeguards for investors from both contracting nations, she said while addressing the Munich Security Conference.
The government has not paused treaty negotiations while preparing the new template, Sitharaman said. India has already concluded enhanced investment agreements with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and several Central Asian countries that incorporate protections beyond the 2016 framework, reflecting more focused provisions on bilateral investor interests.
The revised template represents India's ongoing effort to balance investor confidence with regulatory flexibility as it deepens economic ties across the Middle East and Central Asia. The exact timeline for Cabinet approval was not specified, though officials indicated the process was nearing completion. The shift underscores New Delhi's commitment to modernising its treaty infrastructure amid intensifying regional economic competition and evolving global investment standards.