FM Sitharaman promotes made-in-India potential for the 'world'; highlights Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker, ONDC initiatives

During a high-level Business Roundtable in Chicago, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who doubles as the 32nd Minister of Corporate Affairs, emphasized India's potential for manufacturing and digital initiatives on a global scale. She highlighted key areas such as manufacturing, AI and digital, financial services, infrastructure, food processing, defence, and advanced technologies.

Sitharaman asserted that "India presents substantial scale alongside long-term operational depth," particularly as international corporations reassess their supply chains and capital allocation strategies. She touted the strength of Digital Public Infrastructure—including Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker, ONDC, and India Stack—as platforms capable of handling vast populations.

The finance minister also emphasized the expansion of GIFT IFSC (Global Indian Financial Services Hub) as an international center that connects global capital with domestic ventures. She envisioned higher-value operations in artificial intelligence, analytics, engineering, semiconductors, and electronics, driven by global capability centers sprouting across the country.

Sitharaman pointed to several factors driving India's economic appeal, including robust domestic demand, investment-led growth, macroeconomic resilience, a deep talent pool, and expanding physical and digital infrastructure. She invited global partners to co-develop and co-produce products for global markets, positioning India as an integrated manufacturing base and innovation hub.

The minister highlighted ongoing national infrastructure projects, such as freight corridors, railway modernization, and electrification, which continue to open avenues for institutional capital. She also mentioned policy measures like the Production Linked Incentive scheme, which encourages a shift from basic assembly to deeper component manufacturing, engineering, and advanced technologies.

Sitharaman discussed opportunities in agricultural processing and reiterated that India's investment proposition rests on a convergence of scale, growth, talent, infrastructure, technology, and sustained reform over the past decade.