Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal outlined investment opportunities available to foreign investors in India, pointed to deepening trade links with various partners, and made the case for the country's capacity to host technology operations and data centre infrastructure, calling on members of the Indian diaspora and business interests in the United States to contribute toward building stronger economic ties between the two nations.

Speaking at a Chicago event organised by the US Indian Community Foundation, Goyal addressed the contributions of the Indian diaspora in America, noting that those grounded in values of diligence and purpose had continued to make an impression on the global stage — a message he later reflected on in an online post about his participation in the gathering.

In a post on X, Goyal wrote that the Indian diaspora in the United States had made noteworthy contributions, with professionals of Indian origin drawing on determination and clear purpose to leave a lasting mark across the globe. He went on to describe changes that had taken place in India over the preceding ten years, pointing to new avenues of opportunity opening up domestically and calling on diaspora members to take an active role in the country's ongoing development.

During a separate meeting in Chicago, Goyal held talks with representatives from both the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) and the Asian American Store Owners Association (AASOA), acknowledging the role these groups play in supporting local communities and the broader US economy. He called on the organisations to deepen collaboration with India across community development, entrepreneurial support, and bilateral trade, and expressed a desire to build on existing partnerships through ongoing dialogue.

At Chicago-based events, Goyal addressed investment conditions in India, pointing to the breadth of its domestic consumer base and an expanding set of trade agreements with other economies. He told attendees that technological ventures and commercial activity of various kinds now had access to a population of 1.4 billion people, with India positioned as a base from which to reach global markets.

Goyal outlined the country's free-trade agreement approach, noting that deals struck with 38 nations — each classed as more economically advanced — had been concluded across roughly four to four-and-a-half years, with those partner economies collectively accounting for around USD 60 trillion in output. When combined with prior accords, the trade arrangements in question span economies whose collective output amounts to roughly USD 70 trillion, according to his remarks.

Under the deals, Goyal noted, domestic producers would gain entry to those markets on preferential or zero-tariff terms, drawing India deeper into the networks that underpin worldwide trade. According to statements issued by the Commerce Ministry, nine free trade agreements are already in place, spanning 38 developed economies whose combined gross domestic product approaches USD 60 trillion.

The minister also put forward India as a destination for international data centre investment, pointing to the country's power infrastructure, integrated electricity grid, and technology ecosystem. He told the audience that, among nations where investors consider their data protected and capital welcome given the current geopolitical climate, India stands out as a particularly attractive location for housing data centres.

Efforts to connect India's electricity networks — aimed at bolstering grid reliability and broadening access to power nationwide — were described by Goyal as a priority the administration had pursued. Reliable electricity supply, available land, and faster approvals have been identified by the government as the three pillars needed to grow the country's data centre sector, with total investment potential put at roughly USD 200 billion.

Goyal told investors that the administration had taken steps to streamline regulatory processes and reduce procedural burdens on businesses operating in India. He noted that during his trip to the United States he had held discussions with companies of varying sizes through the US-India Business Council, the US Chamber of Commerce, and other forums where investor concerns about the operating environment were raised.

He touched on shifts in India's governance and commercial landscape, asserting that graft at the upper tiers of government had been rooted out during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tenure and that additional policy changes were under way to reduce barriers for businesses operating in the country.

Chicago formed part of Goyal's itinerary during a broader US trip that ran from 29 September through 5 October. The agenda included a seat at the G20 Trade Ministers' Meeting in Milwaukee and a series of engagements with business leaders, investors, startup founders, and diaspora communities spread across Milwaukee, Chicago, and New York.

Goyal joined fellow trade ministers at the G20 gathering in Milwaukee, where agenda items ranged from food security and commerce to structural overcapacity, the Most-Favoured-Nation principle, and the use of forced labour within global supply networks. On the margins of the summit, one-on-one discussions with trade ministers and senior envoys from a number of G20 partner nations were also part of his schedule.

Ahead of the G20 gathering, Goyal met with chief executives and senior figures from US manufacturing and technology firms at a National Association of Manufacturers roundtable held in Milwaukee. Agenda items spanning investment, manufacturing, technology, innovation, and supply-chain resilience set the tone for the talks, during which Goyal extended a call for American firms to build closer ties with their Indian counterparts.

Trade negotiations between India and the United States provided the backdrop for the minister's Washington trip. Trade talks between Goyal and his American counterpart are under way, with the Commerce and Industry Ministry noting that the discussions form part of a push toward a two-way trade arrangement that serves both sides, including work on an interim deal.