New Delhi: Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently held a significant Business Roundtable in Chicago, where she spoke with key investors and business leaders about various opportunities in sectors like manufacturing, artificial intelligence (AI), financial services, infrastructure, food processing, defense, and advanced technologies.
According to the Ministry of Finance, a major focus of the discussions was on boosting manufacturing in India to meet both local demands and global export needs. The central theme of the meeting was “Manufacture in India — for India and for the world,” highlighting the vast potential in multiple sectors.
During her address, Sitharaman outlined the factors making India an attractive destination for investment. She pointed to a combination of strong local demand, growth-driven investments, economic resilience, a skilled workforce, and improving infrastructure as key elements of India’s appeal.
She remarked that as international companies reevaluate their supply chains and investment strategies, India offers significant scale and long-term stability. The Finance Minister highlighted the country’s achievements in building a robust digital public infrastructure, which includes platforms like Aadhaar and UPI that serve a large population.
Sitharaman mentioned that the next stage for India involves enhancing operations in high-value areas such as AI, analytics, and semiconductor production. She noted that Global Capability Centers across the nation are evolving into important innovation hubs.
Focusing on the financial sector, she discussed the growth of the GIFT IFSC, designed to connect global capital with local businesses. As of June 2026, this hub had registered 1,250 entities and is opening doors in areas like banking, fund management, and sustainable finance.
In terms of industrial manufacturing, the talks emphasized moving beyond basic assembly to more complex component manufacturing and engineering, supported by initiatives like the Production Linked Incentive scheme. National infrastructure projects, such as freight corridors and rail modernization, are also creating investment opportunities, particularly through the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund.
Sitharaman pointed to the expanding agricultural processing sector, driven by increasing incomes and shifting consumer habits. She also mentioned advancements in domestic technology in defense, as well as the focus on drones and autonomous systems through the Atmanirbhar Bharat and iDEX initiatives.
She stressed that India’s investment potential does not rely on a single sector but is a result of a combination of scale, growth, talent, infrastructure, technology, and ongoing reforms over the past decade. The current policy environment is designed to support businesses in their investment, manufacturing, and innovation efforts.
In conclusion, the Finance Minister invited global partners to collaborate, co-develop, and build for international markets, encouraging businesses to see India as a comprehensive manufacturing base and a center for innovation and lasting investment.
This roundtable was arranged by the Indian Consulate in Chicago in partnership with the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum.
