BENGALURU: Japan’s internet giant Rakuten will invest at least $100 million in India this year and expand its headcount by 8%, aiming to strengthen its global capabilities, according to Rakuten India CEO Sunil Gopinath.
The investment will focus on scaling technology, infrastructure, and hiring—particularly of AI-savvy professionals. Rakuten, which employs 4,000 people in India (90% in tech roles), is actively integrating artificial intelligence into core functions, including business operations, customer service, and employee productivity.
Its India Global Capability Centre (GCC), instrumental in building Japan’s Rakuten Pay and the AI-driven SixthSense monitoring platform, now supports around half of Rakuten’s 70+ global businesses.
Rakuten reported a ¥10.5 billion ($73.6 million) AI-driven profit in FY2024 and aims to double this in 2025. Its India operations span multiple cities, with two key centres in Bengaluru.
India’s GCC market is projected to grow from $64.6 billion in 2024 to $105 billion by 2030, according to Nasscom and Zinnov.–REUTERS
