Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has urged global investors to utilize India's talent and scale to build products for the global market, highlighting India's evolving role from a consumer market to a manufacturing powerhouse.

  • India is transitioning from an assembly hub to a high-value component and engineering center.
  • Digital Public Infrastructure (UPI, Aadhaar) provides a unique scalable foundation for business.
  • GIFT City is positioned as a premier gateway for international financial capital.

Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman, has extended a powerful invitation to global investors to establish manufacturing bases and innovation centers in India. Speaking at a high-level Business Roundtable in Chicago, she emphasized that the world should leverage India's immense talent and scale to 'build for the world.'

Addressing leaders organized by the Consulate General of India in Chicago and the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum, the Finance Minister highlighted that India's investment proposition is not tied to a single sector. Instead, it is the convergence of massive scale, rapid growth, skilled talent, robust infrastructure, and a decade of sustained policy reforms.

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Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that as global corporations seek to de-risk their supply chains, India's proactive policy environment—including Production-Linked Incentives (PLI)—makes it an indispensable partner. The shift from simple assembly to sophisticated component manufacturing marks a critical evolution in India's industrial maturity.

Do not consider India merely as a market to serve, but as a platform from which to build for the world.

Ms. Sitharaman specifically pointed toward the future of high-value industries. She noted that the next frontier of growth lies in Artificial Intelligence (AI), semiconductors, electronics, and advanced engineering. She highlighted that India's Global Capability Centres (GCCs) are rapidly transforming into global hubs for innovation and product development.

Furthermore, the Minister showcased India's Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), such as UPI, Aadhaar, and ONDC, as revolutionary tools that have created platforms at a population scale. This digital backbone, combined with physical infrastructure like dedicated freight corridors and high-speed rail, provides a holistic ecosystem for long-term institutional capital.

On the financial front, the Minister promoted GIFT City as an emerging international financial hub. With over 1,250 registered entities as of June 2026, it serves as a vital link connecting global capital with Indian growth opportunities across banking, reinsurance, and sustainable finance.

Did You Know?: India's Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) is considered a global blueprint for financial inclusion and digital governance.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the core message of FM Sitharaman's Chicago address?
The core message is for global companies to use India as a manufacturing and innovation base to create products for the entire global market, rather than just consuming within India.

2. How is India supporting advanced manufacturing?
Through initiatives like Atmanirbhar Bharat, iDEX, and Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes, India is building capabilities in drones, semiconductors, and advanced engineering.