Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal says India's emergence as the world's most trusted investment destination is due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government's efforts to strengthen manufacturing, ease of doing business, infrastructure, technology adoption and global trade engagement.

Addressing global investors and business leaders at the Citi India summit in early June 2026, Goyal said that India will continue to maintain this position for over two decades into the future. He said his engagements during visits to Canada and the United States demonstrated strong global confidence in India's economic prospects. He referred to strong investor interest from pension funds, insurance companies and other institutional investors. He said 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.

The Indian minister said Hyundai invested US dollars 200 million in India in 1999 despite infrastructure limitations, but the company built substantial value over the years through manufacturing operations in India and generated significant returns through dividends, royalties and capital appreciation. 

Goyal highlighted India's expanding trade engagement with the world and stated that India has signed nine free trade agreements in the last three to three-and-a-half years, covering 38 developed economies. He noted that these agreements complement India's growth story by expanding market access, facilitating trade, enabling the movement of talent and attracting investments, including the establishment of Global Capability Centres in India.

The Oman Free Trade Agreement came into effect on 1st June, and at least two to three additional substantive free trade agreements are expected to come into effect within the next six months. He further stated that India is likely to execute another three to four significant trade agreements in the coming year and operationalise all nine recently concluded agreements over the next nine to ten months.

Starting with initially investing in Indian talent, the minister said now India draws growing investment in technology and manufacturing.