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Lulu Founder Hails CEPA Deal at Davos, Sees Boom for Indian Trade & Sectors

Lulu Mall founder Yusuf Ali stated that the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed at the World Economic Forum in Davos will allow duty-free movement of goods between India and partner countries, significantly benefiting multiple sectors. He expressed strong investment intent in India following meetings with various state ministers, emphasizing a preference for firm agreements over MoUs. Concurrently, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted that international investors view India as a stable, vibrant democracy and a "bright spot" in the global economy. Vaishnaw projected that India's economy will continue its strong growth trajectory of 6-8% in real terms over the next five years.

Key Points: CEPA Deal at Davos to Boost Indian Trade, Says Lulu Founder

  • Duty-free access for Indian products
  • Benefits for trade, industry, agriculture & aviation
  • Founder plans concrete investments in India
  • India seen as a trusted global value chain partner
  • Economy projected to grow 6-8% in real terms
3 min read

Will benefit Indian trade and other sectors: Lulu Mall founder on signing of CEPA at WEF 2026

Lulu Mall founder Yusuf Ali says CEPA enables duty-free trade, benefiting Indian industries, agriculture & aviation. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlights India as a global "bright spot."

"CEPA will benefit Indian trade, industries, agriculture and the aviation industry. - Yusuf Ali"

Davos, January 22

Founder of Lulu Mall, Yusuf Ali, stated that all Indian products can now enter duty-free and vice versa, owing to the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement at the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Speaking to ANI at the Business Summit, Ali said that the agreement will create effective trading opportunities for India worldwide, adding that it will benefit industries, agriculture and aviation as well.

"Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed with the UAE and other countries. In exchange, all Indian products can enter duty-free, and vice versa. CEPA will benefit Indian trade, industries, agriculture and the aviation industry," he stated.

Ali shed light on his meeting with Indian Chief Ministers at the summit and expressed optimism about investing in India.

"I am meeting with the Chief Ministers of different states here, and they are all very investor-friendly. I met the Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister, and others who support pro-investment policies. We will invest in India....I don't believe in MoUs. I only believe in agreements. We will sign agreements in India itself," he said.

Furthermore, Ali underscored the importance of domestic industries expressing confidence in the leaders for their protection.

"We have to protect domestic industries. Our thoughtful leaders will dictate according to it," he said.

Earlier on Wednesday, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared that international investors are clearly calling India a "bright spot" during the ongoing summit in Switzerland. The Minister noted that the country's progress and democratic system have made it a top choice for those seeking a trusted place to invest in sustainable growth.

Discussing the outcomes of his investor meetings, Ashwini Vaishnaw said, "India is being seen today as a trusted value chain partner all over the world. In this turbulent, very difficult environment across the globe, marked by uncertainty, India is seen as a very stable, vibrant democracy and an economy with sustainable growth.

Revealing the feedback from various global panels, Union Minister further said, "The way meetings and discussions took place with investors here, in every panel, people were very clearly saying that India is a bright spot today."

Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, on Wednesday said India will continue to grow at 6 to 8 per cent in real terms and 10 to 13 per cent in nominal terms over the next five years.

Speaking at the session on 'Bet on India - Bank on the Future' organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in association with EY, coinciding with the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2026 at Davos, Vaishnaw spoke of the government's efforts towards ease of doing business.

"India will continue to grow six to eight per cent in real terms and 10 to 13 per cent in nominal terms, supported by moderate inflation and strong growth," he said.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Good to see practical steps being taken at Davos. Yusuf Ali's point about not believing in MoUs but only agreements is spot on. Too many MoUs just remain on paper. Real investment and signed contracts are what we need.
A
Arjun K
Protecting domestic industries is crucial. While opening up trade, we must ensure our local manufacturers and startups are not wiped out by cheaper imports. A balanced approach is key.
S
Sarah B
The aviation sector getting a boost is interesting. Could mean more direct cargo flights and potentially cheaper airfare for passengers in the long run? The 6-8% growth projection sounds optimistic but achievable.
K
Karthik V
Hope this leads to more jobs back home. Agreements are good, but the real measure of success will be employment generation in sectors like agriculture and manufacturing. The "bright spot" narrative needs to translate to on-ground opportunities for the youth.
M
Meera T
While the news is positive, I have a respectful criticism. We hear a lot about these high-profile summits and agreements. I'd like to see more transparency on the specific terms. What concessions did we give for this duty-free access? The devil is often in the details.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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