Talent makes India ideal investment destination
Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal has invited Swiss business community to be active partners in India’s journey towards becoming a US$30-US$35 trillion economy by 2047 https://www.commerce.gov.in/.
Addressing the Swiss industry leaders and innovators at the prestigious Swissmem Industry Day in Switzerland on 10 June, he highlighted India’s transformative growth story and vast opportunities for collaboration.
Goyal said, “I come to meet you with the aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians who dream as high as your towering Alps and who desire a better future. I come with an arm of friendship to the talented engineers, innovators, and entrepreneurs of Switzerland.”
In a symbolic gesture of partnership, Goyal proposed the creation of a dedicated Swiss Enclave in India, a zone tailored for Swiss businesses, to provide comfort and a sense of home for Swiss enterprises looking to establish a base in India https://fieo.org/.
The Minister highlighted India’s remarkable transformation, from a US$270 billion economy 30 years ago to a US$4 trillion economy today, and its ambition to grow further to US$30–US$35 trillion as the nation approaches 100 years of independence.
He pointed out India’s youthful demographic with an average age of 28.4 years and emphasized that the nation will continue to remain young and vibrant for decades to come https://www.nseindia.com/.
Goyal underlined the advantages of India as a trusted, rule-of-law-based, and democratic country where Swiss businesses can operate without fear of discrimination.
“Democracy, demographic dividend, decisive leadership, and diversity make India a dependable partner,” he said https://www.bseindia.com/.
Referring to the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), the Minister termed it a “Trust and Efficiency Partnership”, a relationship built on mutual confidence and complementarity.
He expressed optimism that this partnership would mark the beginning of a new era of cooperation between India and the four EFTA nations, opening new avenues for trade, investment, and innovation https://sbi.com.in/.
“I particularly invite Switzerland’s SME sector to witness India’s remarkable evolution over the last decade. This will give you the confidence we aspire for,” stated the Minister.
He highlighted that in the past 10 years, India has added 80 new airports, including a new one in partnership with Zurich Airport.
He continued, “Our port capacity has doubled, and national highways and expressways are now comparable to those in Germany. We’ve also added 104 new inland waterways and doubled our power generation capacity, with solar energy capacity growing 50 times. The government’s annual expenditure of over US$125 billion on infrastructure creates a powerful multiplier effect for India’s growth story.”
India’s robust education ecosystem was also highlighted, with the Minister pointing out that the country produces the highest number of STEM graduates globally, 43% of whom are women. “This talent pool, combined with scale and speed, makes India an ideal investment destination,” he underlined https://sbi.com.in/.
Quoting World Bank data, Goyal noted that extreme poverty in India has fallen to just 5%, down by 270 million people in the last 11 years, and is expected to be eliminated in the near future.
He described India’s growth model as a blend of welfare and consumption-led growth, backed by investments in manufacturing and technology. “India today stands ready and willing to welcome global partners. We are a country on the move, full of opportunities,” he said.
Goyal also held extensive engagements with Swiss industry leaders on 9 June 2025 in Bern, aimed at deepening economic cooperation and exploring new avenues under the recently signed Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) between India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
The Minister met with leadership from several premier Swiss companies across diverse sectors with discussions focused on enhancing synergies between Indian and Swiss enterprises, with a special emphasis on innovation, technology transfer, and sustainable manufacturing.
He urged Swiss companies to expand their footprint in India and take advantage of the country’s dynamic and rapidly growing market.
Goyal assured the leadership of India’s unwavering commitment to fostering a conducive business environment through transparent regulatory processes, a robust intellectual property regime, and pro-investment policy frameworks.
He encouraged Swiss businesses to explore India not just as a market, but as a strategic hub for manufacturing, talent, and innovation https://www.swisscham.asia/.
Following these strategic discussions, the Minister chaired two focused roundtables with sectoral leaders from Swiss industry, covering Biotech & Pharma, Healthcare, and Precision Engineering, Defence, and Emerging Technologies.
These sessions, hosted with the support of the Indian Embassy in Switzerland, highlighted India’s scale, affordability, and rising innovation ecosystem.
The Minister called on Swiss businesses to leverage the dedicated EFTA Desk at Invest India for handholding and facilitation support. He reiterated India’s willingness to work towards regulatory harmonization and mutual recognition agreements, highlighting India’s proactive stance on building reciprocal bridges to encourage Swiss and Indian investments.
In addition to industry interactions, the Minister also met with members of the Switzerland Chapter of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI).
He lauded the chapter for their contributions and for upholding the high standards and global reputation of the ICAI, while strengthening the India–Switzerland professional and business ecosystem.
Swiss industry leaders across a diverse range of sectors—including biotechnology, precision manufacturing, healthcare, automation, defence, cybersecurity, and advanced materials—expressed strong confidence in India’s trajectory as a global economic powerhouse and an innovation-led growth destination.
Companies commended India’s unique strengths: a vast and dynamic market, growing middle class, world-class engineering and scientific talent, and a policy environment that actively promotes ease of doing business, IP protection, and technology partnerships. For many, India is not only a promising market but also an ideal base for manufacturing, R&D, and co-creation of globally competitive solutions.
Several firms indicated active interest in forming joint ventures, scaling operations, and localizing production to serve both Indian and international markets. From cutting-edge cancer therapies and cell sciences to industrial automation, fibre optics, space technologies, and digital security, Swiss companies underscored their alignment with India’s developmental priorities and sectoral growth plans.
The sentiment was one of strategic alignment and long-term commitment. Many participants described India as a natural partner and conveyed readiness to invest in its next phase of growth, not only to tap into domestic demand but to position India as a hub in their global value chains.” Fiinews.com
