India Emerges as World’s Most Trusted Investment Destination, Says Piyush Goyal at Citi India Conference 2026

New Delhi, June 4: Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said India has emerged as the world’s most trusted investment destination, highlighting the country’s strong economic fundamentals, growing manufacturing capabilities and expanding global trade partnerships.

Delivering the keynote address virtually at the Citi India Conference 2026 in Mumbai, Goyal said India continues to be recognized as the world’s fastest-growing major economy and is well-positioned to maintain this momentum for decades.

The minister said his recent interactions with investors and business leaders in Canada and the United States reflected growing confidence in India’s economic future. He noted that a proposed India-Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA) received a positive response, while global investors increasingly view India as a reliable manufacturing hub and long-term investment destination.

According to Goyal, global institutional investors, including pension funds and insurance companies, are showing strong interest in India due to its democratic framework, rule of law, technological strengths and vast consumer market of over 1.4 billion people.

Highlighting India’s trade strategy, the minister said the country has signed nine Free Trade Agreements over the last three-and-a-half years, covering 38 developed economies. These agreements are helping expand market access, facilitate investments and improve global mobility for skilled professionals.

He informed investors that the Oman Free Trade Agreement came into effect on June 1 and indicated that two to three more major trade agreements are expected to become operational within the next six months. All nine recently concluded agreements are likely to be implemented within the next nine to ten months.

Goyal also outlined several reforms aimed at improving the ease of doing business. He said the recently enacted Jan Vishwas Act 2.0 has decriminalized nearly 1,000 offences across various central laws where there was no intent to cheat and no risk to public health or safety.

The minister highlighted the newly launched Bhavya Scheme, under which 100 industrial parks will be developed across the country with world-class plug-and-play infrastructure. The initiative includes factory-ready facilities, housing, utilities, environmental clearances and digital infrastructure to support manufacturing and MSME growth.

On infrastructure development, Goyal said India is investing nearly $130 billion in roads, highways, ports, airports and rural connectivity projects. He added that port and airport capacities have doubled over the past decade, significantly improving logistics and connectivity.

The minister also emphasized India’s growing focus on renewable energy, semiconductors and emerging technologies. He noted that the country plans to increase renewable energy capacity from 250 GW to 500 GW over the next five years and is investing heavily in workforce reskilling for artificial intelligence and advanced technologies.

Referring to semiconductor manufacturing, Goyal said Tata Group and ASML are setting up India’s first capital equipment manufacturing facility for the semiconductor sector, marking a significant milestone in the country’s technological advancement.

He further highlighted India’s achievements in developing an indigenous 5G stack, rapid nationwide 5G rollout, affordable data access and a secure environment for data centres and digital infrastructure.

Concluding his address, Goyal said India offers immense opportunities for global investors through innovation-led growth, competitive manufacturing and a stable business environment. He expressed confidence that India will emerge as one of the most influential economic growth stories of the 21st century and play a pivotal role in shaping the global economy.