Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on her ongoing US visit said that rising global trade restrictions and shifting investment flows should be seen as an opportunity to strengthen India–US ties in high-stakes sectors like semiconductors, quantum tech, pharmaceuticals and nuclear energy, Mint reported.
Speaking at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, she also noted that global trade dynamics have changed dramatically since 2019. Rather than seeing it as a setback, she she framed the moment as one of “reimagining” global markets.
"Unsurprisingly, global trade investment markets are being reimagined to bring about a better balance between externally led growth and domestic growth, between the Mint Street and the Wall Street, and between transition and energy security," she added.
However, she added that even as these global shifts appear to be daunting but they are full of new opportunities.
"As we lay the foundation for a developed India, we must stay committed to long-term goals, without losing sight of present realities. The global order is changing. That poses challenges but also opportunities. We must be prepared to tackle the former while seizing the latter," Sitharaman said, speaking at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University.
Looking ahead, Sitharaman called for a strategic rethink to sustain India’s growth over the next two decades, built on bold reforms, stronger domestic capabilities and deeper institutional partnerships that can keep pace with an evolving world.
Furthermore, the finance minister highlighted that a significant thrust on infrastructure development has also created a strong foundation for manufacturing-led growth by bolstering investor confidence over the last decade.
"This has been enabled by a more than fourfold increase in the Union Government’s capital expenditure (Capex) between 2017–18 and the 2025–26 Budget," Sitharaman noted.
Sitharaman also emphasised that the government is focused on cutting regulatory friction, digitising approvals and integrating MSMEs into global value chains. She said that special attention is being paid to empowering women entrepreneurs and rural enterprises, both key to achieving inclusive growth.
“India has an unprecedented opportunity to reap a demographic dividend, but this requires matching education and skilling with the demands of Industry 4.0,” she added.
