Nirmala Sitharaman Calls on Global Companies to Make India Their Gateway to the World

Chicago, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has made a strong pitch to international investors to expand their manufacturing, technology and innovation operations in India, presenting the country as more than a large consumer market.

Speaking at a high-level business roundtable in Chicago, Sitharaman highlighted India’s growing economic scale, skilled workforce, expanding infrastructure, digital capabilities and continuing reforms as factors that could support long-term investment.

From Selling in India to Building From India

The central message of the minister’s interaction with investors was that international companies should consider India as a platform from which they can develop and manufacture products for markets around the world.

The discussion was centred on the theme “Manufacture in India — for India and for the world.” Opportunities discussed covered manufacturing, artificial intelligence, digital technology, financial services, infrastructure, food processing, defence and other advanced industries.

Sitharaman encouraged global businesses to work with Indian companies on co-development and co-production, rather than viewing the country simply as a destination for selling finished products.

India’s Supply-Chain Opportunity

Global companies are reassessing their production networks and investment plans as supply chains evolve. India is attempting to use this shift to increase its role in international manufacturing.

Sitharaman pointed to India’s large domestic market alongside its expanding manufacturing capabilities. She also highlighted the government’s effort to move production beyond basic assembly toward components, engineering and higher-value technologies.

Production-linked incentive programmes are among the policy measures being used to support this broader manufacturing ambition.

Technology Becomes a Central Part of the Investment Pitch

The investment proposition presented in Chicago was not limited to factories.

Sitharaman highlighted India’s digital public infrastructure, including Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker, ONDC and India Stack, as examples of technology platforms operating at very large scale.

She also pointed to opportunities in artificial intelligence, analytics, engineering, product development, semiconductors and electronics.

India’s Global Capability Centres are increasingly taking on more sophisticated functions, including research, engineering and innovation, rather than operating only as back-office support units.

GIFT City Offers Another Investment Route

The Finance Minister also highlighted GIFT IFSC as an emerging international financial centre connecting overseas capital with opportunities in India.

The platform offers opportunities in areas such as banking, fund management, reinsurance, aircraft and ship leasing, and sustainable finance. Sitharaman invited international financial institutions to explore GIFT City as a potential gateway into India’s financial ecosystem.

This could give foreign investors another route to participate in India’s infrastructure and business expansion.

Infrastructure Could Attract Long-Term Capital

India’s infrastructure development was another major part of the investment pitch.

Projects involving freight corridors, railway modernisation, electrification and high-speed rail are creating potential demand for engineering services, specialised equipment, materials and technology.

Sitharaman also highlighted the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund as a commercially oriented platform through which international investors can participate in India’s infrastructure growth.

Food Processing and Consumer Demand

India’s large agricultural base and changing consumption patterns are creating opportunities beyond traditional manufacturing.

The Finance Minister pointed to food processing, packaging, logistics, automation and cold-chain infrastructure as areas where international businesses could build operations serving both Indian consumers and overseas markets.

Rising incomes and changing consumer preferences could further increase demand for organised food-processing and distribution systems.

Defence and Advanced Technologies

The investment message also extended to strategic technologies.

Through programmes including Atmanirbhar Bharat and iDEX, India is seeking to strengthen domestic capabilities in areas such as drones, autonomous systems and other advanced technologies.

Greater international collaboration in these areas could potentially bring capital, technical expertise and new manufacturing capabilities into the country.

Why India, Why Now?

Sitharaman’s argument to investors rests on several factors working together rather than on one particular industry.

India offers a large consumer base, a growing pool of skilled workers, expanding physical and digital infrastructure, technology capabilities and an extended period of economic reforms.

The government believes this combination can make India attractive to companies looking for long-term production and operating bases.

Global Companies Already Expanding in India

The investment push comes as several multinational companies continue to examine opportunities to expand their Indian operations.

During her Chicago visit, Sitharaman also met senior executives from Mondelez International and Hyatt to discuss their businesses and potential expansion in India. Discussions with Mondelez included manufacturing, sourcing, services and exports, while talks with Hyatt focused on its continued commitment and expansion opportunities in the country.

These engagements demonstrate that the government’s investment outreach is targeting both manufacturing companies and service-sector businesses.

Aiming for a Bigger Role in the Global Economy

India’s latest investment pitch reflects a broader economic objective: increasing the country’s role in global production, technology and innovation.

The government wants foreign companies to use India’s workforce, infrastructure, domestic demand and technology ecosystem not only to serve Indian customers but also to develop products and services for international markets.

If more companies respond to this pitch with actual investments, India could strengthen its position in global supply chains while gaining manufacturing capacity, technology transfer and new employment opportunities.

For international businesses, the attraction is equally significant: India offers the possibility of combining a huge domestic market with a growing base from which to reach customers around the world.