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The international IT industry is on the cusp of a phase of intensified growth, driven by emerging trade agreements and quick technological developments. Latest agreements, including the Free Trade Agreement between the UK and India, are making markets accessible and lowering barriers for IT-based services. Concurrently, platforms such as the TradeTech Global Initiative are highlighting the revolutionizing potential of digital technologies—particularly artificial intelligence—to make international trade more effective, resilient, and inclusive. Although protectionism and supply chain risk continue to pose challenges to the sector, its prospects remain positive, with large growth opportunities for cloud services, AI, and data analytics.
1. Trade Agreements Driving IT Sector Growth
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The India-UK Free Trade Agreement can be expected to double bilateral trade from Rs. 60 billion to Rs. 120 billion by 2030, offering virtual tariff-free access for Indian IT firms to British markets.
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The agreement is expected to benefit IT and IT-enabled services strongly, supporting sectoral upside potential of as much as 34%.
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Enlarging trade agreements, like the WTO's Information Technology Agreement (ITA), have been found to increase GDP growth and tax collection in developing economies by promoting trade in ICT goods.
2. Optimistic Sector Performance Amidst Global Uncertainty
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India's IT industry has proved robust, with a year-on-year expansion rate of 9.57%.
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The international trade in services, including IT, is projected to expand by 4.0% in 2025 even as merchandise trade grapples with headwinds arising from tariff-related barriers and rising geopolitical tensions.
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Demand for digital transformation and modernization services continues unabated, helping IT companies to ride the wave of changing business demands.
3. Technology and Innovation as Growth Catalysts
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The TradeTech Forum 2025 emphasized the central role of AI in redefining supply chains, trade finance, and compliance to make global trade more efficient and inclusive.
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Regulatory sandboxes and global cooperation are accelerating innovations in digital trade documentation, blockchain traceability, and cross-border data exchange.
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The information technology sector is growing more heavily influenced by cloud services, artificial intelligence, and data analytics.
4. Navigating Challenges in a Fragmented Global Landscape
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Growing protectionism, fresh tariffs, and trade restrictions are building a new landscape of global trade, affecting physical and digital supply chains.
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Companies need to deal with changing rules, rising compliance expense, and heightened cyber threats as governments implement tighter control over data flows and digital infrastructure.
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In spite of this, global cooperation and regulatory innovation are de-risking and speeding up digital trade solutions.
5. Regional and Global Implications
Whereas North America experiences significant export decline, India and other developing economies are taking advantage of trade treaties and online technology to fuel the growth of the IT industry.
Wider economic benefits of IT trade liberalization are more investment in education, business expansion, and better legal institutions.
Sources: Economic Times, Information Technology and Innovation, Foundation, Drishti IAS, World Economic Forum
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