Chennai Event report • HR Focus
Breakfast Networking Session on Strategic Implications for French Businesses in India – GST 2.0 Edition |Knowledge Partner - SAS Partners
IFCCI Chennai in collaboration with SAS Partners, organized an interactive session on the new Indian GST regulations
The Indo-French Chamber of Commerce & Industry (IFCCI), in collaboration with SAS Partners as the knowledge partner, organized an interactive breakfast session on “Strategic Implications for French Businesses in India – GST 2.0 Edition.”
The session commenced with a welcome address by Mr. Sameer M from IFCCI, followed by remarks from Mr. Etienne Rolland-Piegue, Consul General of France in Pondicherry & Chennai, and Ms. Swarna, Associate Partner at SAS Partners. The discussion was led by Mr. R.C. Pillai, Advisor - Tax, Commercial & Contracts at SAS Partners, who shared insights from his 30+ years of experience in taxation and corporate law.
Key highlights included an overview of GST 2.0 a major reform of India’s indirect tax framework aimed at making it simpler, growth-oriented and consumption-driven. The new structure proposed reducing the existing slabs of 5%, 12%, 18% and 28% to primarily two main rates – 5% and 18 %, with a 40% slab for luxury and sin goods, and a 0 % (nil) rate for certain essentials.
The discussion emphasized the growing focus on vendor compliance, ITC reconciliation, and real-time system-driven validation signifying a transition from periodic self-assessment to automated, technology-led processes. The expert noted that GST 2.0 has the potential to boost India’s GDP by 0.7–1.2%, backed by robust economic indicators such as a 2% increase in fuel consumption, a 34% surge in passenger vehicle sales, and retail inflation hitting its lowest level in a decade.
Participants from companies including Valeo, Renault, TAC Economics, Sicame Group, Infotel, and Cooper Turner Beck actively contributed to the discussion, making the session highly engaging and insightful. The meeting concluded with an interactive Q&A segment, where participants shared valuable perspectives and posed thoughtful questions.
IFCCI extends its sincere thanks to all participants for their enthusiastic involvement and meaningful contributions to the dialogue on India’s evolving GST landscape and its effects on the Indo-French business ecosystem.
Participating Companies: Valeo, Renault, TAC Economics, Sicame Group, Infotel, and Cooper Turner Beck
Knowledge Partner: SAS Partners Corporate Advisors
