Japanese firms invested at least $1.43 billion (about ¥163 billion) in Indian private equity and venture capital deals in the first half of 2017, more than triple the $459 million in 2016, according to data provided by Indian research firm Venture Intelligence.

Telecommunications giant SoftBank Group Corp. accounted for $1.40 billion, or 98.9 percent, of the first-half sum with two large deals in the telecom sector.

Six other deals were sealed with Japanese companies, ranging from marketing for agriculture and logistics to travel and wellness, the data showed.