New Delhi: Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said India has emerged as a trusted investment destination and continues to attract strong interest from global investors despite economic and geopolitical uncertainties.
Delivering the keynote address virtually at the Citi India Conference 2026, Goyal said India remained the world’s fastest-growing major economy and was well-positioned to sustain its growth momentum for decades.
He said recent meetings with investors and business leaders in Canada and the United States reflected growing confidence in India’s economic prospects. According to him, investors increasingly view India as a reliable manufacturing hub, a secure investment destination and a key partner in global supply chains.
Goyal said discussions in North America generated a positive response for the proposed India-Canada Free Trade Agreement. He added that pension funds, insurance firms and institutional investors showed strong interest in expanding investments in India.
The Minister highlighted India’s expanding global trade engagement. He said the country signed nine free trade agreements over the past three years, covering 38 developed economies. These agreements have improved market access, encouraged investments and facilitated talent mobility.
He also noted that the Oman Free Trade Agreement came into effect on June 1. Furthermore, India expects several additional trade agreements to become operational within the coming months.
Trusted investment destination backed by reforms
Goyal said the government has introduced several reforms to strengthen the business environment. He highlighted the Jan Vishwas Act 2.0, which decriminalised nearly 1,000 offences across multiple central laws and reduced compliance burdens for businesses.
He also announced the Bhavya Scheme, which aims to develop 100 industrial parks with world-class infrastructure. The initiative will provide plug-and-play facilities, worker housing, utilities and digital infrastructure to support manufacturing and MSMEs.
The Minister said India had simplified labour regulations by consolidating 29 laws into four labour codes. In addition, the country has invested heavily in highways, ports, airports and rural connectivity.
Goyal highlighted India’s progress in renewable energy, semiconductors and advanced technologies. He said Tata and ASML were establishing India’s first semiconductor capital equipment manufacturing facility, reflecting growing confidence in the country’s technology ecosystem.
He said India now offers a secure environment for innovation, manufacturing and data infrastructure. Therefore, global investors increasingly view the country as a long-term growth opportunity.
Concluding his address, Goyal said India offers immense potential, profitability and stability. He expressed confidence that the country would become one of the defining growth stories of the 21st century.
