Japan’s leading tech conglomerate Rakuten Group is significantly expanding its footprint in India with a planned investment of at least $100 million, according to a top executive. This strategic move is aimed at accelerating hiring, R&D initiatives, and AI innovation , positioning India as a core hub for Rakuten’s global technology operations
The Rakuten India Enterprise Private Limited (RIEPL) unit, based in Bengaluru , will be the focal point for this expansion. With a current team of nearly 2,000 employees, Rakuten aims to scale its Indian workforce to support global demand across diverse verticals including e-commerce, fintech, telecom, and digital content
“India plays a central role in our global technology strategy,” said Sunil Gopinath , CEO of Rakuten India. “This fresh investment will not only enhance our AI and software capabilities , but also strengthen our innovation leadership across Rakuten’s product ecosystem.”
The company plans to focus its new investment on:
- Expanding its AI research and engineering capabilities
- Scaling its R&D operations in fintech, telecom, and e-commerce
- Enhancing its 5G and digital infrastructure projects
- Increasing campus and lateral hiring across tech and engineering roles
- Collaborating with Indian academia and startups for innovation
Rakuten’s Bengaluru R&D centre , one of the largest outside Japan, has already contributed to several high-impact global projects, particularly in AI-driven personalization, telecom automation, and cloud-native infrastructure
With India emerging as a critical hub for digital transformation and skilled tech talent, Rakuten’s long-term commitment reflects the broader trend of Japanese enterprises increasing investments in India’s tech economy. This move also aligns with India’s ambition to become a global AI innovation powerhouse by 2030
Rakuten’s strategic push follows similar announcements from other Japanese technology giants, further validating India’s reputation as a top destination for digital innovation, AI R&D, and engineering excellence
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