Sitharaman pitches ‘Manufacture in India’ to investors in Chicago

Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that as global companies reassess their supply chains and capital allocation, India offers not only the scale of a vast market but also the depth of a long-term investment and operating platform. She made these remarks while addressing a high-level Business Roundtable with leading investors and business leaders in Chicago, United States on Saturday. She highlighted India’s broad-based growth, reform momentum and expanding opportunities for long-term investment. Ms Sitharaman also emphasised that India’s investment appeal lies in the convergence of scale, sustained economic growth, skilled talent, world-class infrastructure, technological advancement and a decade of consistent reforms.
A key focus of the meeting was “Manufacture in India – for India and for the world”, with opportunities across manufacturing, AI and digital, financial services, infrastructure, food processing, defence and advanced technologies. Ms Sitharaman noted that India’s Digital Public Infrastructure, including Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker, ONDC and India Stack, has created platforms operating at population scale. She added that the country’s next phase of growth lies in building high-value businesses in AI, engineering, analytics, product development, semiconductors and electronics, with Global Capability Centres increasingly evolving into global innovation hubs.
Ms Sitharaman underlined that GIFT IFSC is emerging as an international financial centre connecting global capital with Indian opportunities. Referring to the reconfiguration of global supply chains, the Minister said India combines a large domestic market with globally competitive manufacturing capabilities, with the focus now shifting beyond assembly to deeper component manufacturing, engineering and advanced technologies, supported by Production Linked Incentive schemes.
Ms Sitharaman said India is strengthening domestic capabilities in drones, autonomous systems and other advanced technologies. She also invited global partners to co-develop, co-produce and build for global markets, urging them to view India not merely as a market to serve but as a platform from which to build for the world.
The Roundtable was organised by the Consulate General of India in Chicago in association with the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum.