Long-term global capital is increasingly looking towards India, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday, adding that in his recent interactions with leading investors from New York and Toronto, every discussion reinforced confidence in India's future growth trajectory.
He said that the question for investors is not whether to invest in India, but how quickly they recognise and participate in the India growth story. Virtually delivering the keynote address at the ‘Citi India Conference 2026’ in Mumbai, he highlighted India's emergence as the world's most trusted investment destination, and outlined the government's ongoing efforts to strengthen manufacturing, ease of doing business, infrastructure, technology adoption and global trade engagement.
Addressing global investors and business leaders, Goyal said India is recognised as the world's fastest-growing economy and expressed confidence that the country will continue to maintain this position for over two decades into the future.
He noted that India has consistently converted crises into opportunities by reorienting processes and business strategies to suit changing geopolitical and economic circumstances while continuing to remain an attractive destination for trade, business, manufacturing and investments.
Referring to his visit to Canada with the largest business delegation ever to travel from India, he highlighted the positive response received for a proposed India-Canada Free Trade Agreement and the strong investor interest from pension funds, insurance companies and other institutional investors.
He further stated that discussions with leading investment firms and around 50 companies in New York reinforced the perception of India as the only credible alternative manufacturing hub, a trusted partner and a safe investment destination backed by democracy, rule of law, decisive leadership, technological capabilities and a vast consumer market of 1.4 billion people.
Highlighting examples of successful long-term investments in India, the Minister referred to Hyundai's entry into India in 1999 with an investment of approximately $200 million. He noted that despite infrastructure limitations at the time, the company built substantial value over the years through manufacturing operations in India and generated significant returns through dividends, royalties and capital appreciation.
He also cited JCB's experience in India, stating that the company entered the country when infrastructure development was still at an early stage and today exports products manufactured in India to nearly 130 countries while serving growing domestic demand.
He said these examples demonstrate India's ability to support manufacturing at scale for both domestic and global markets. Inviting global investors to participate in India's growth journey, Goyal emphasised that India is not merely a large and growing market but also a base for innovation, design and advanced manufacturing. He urged investors to bring patient and long-term capital to support India's transition towards newer technologies and future industries.