Editor’s Note
This article highlights India’s strategic push to attract major investments in data centers and AI, with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal underscoring how a trade deal with the US could facilitate access to critical high-tech equipment for this digital economy vision.
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said the Indian government aims to attract investments worth lakhs of crores in data centers, AI, and the future digital economy. This will require high-technology equipment. In this regard, the trade deal with the US will prove very beneficial.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal claimed at a press conference on Tuesday that the trade agreement with the US will open up ‘a plethora of opportunities’ for employment-oriented sectors such as textiles, leather, gems & jewellery, and handicrafts. He said that officials from India and the US will now finalize the technical details of the agreement. Once the details are settled, both sides will issue a joint statement. He expressed confidence that the joint statement on the India-US trade deal will be issued soon.
US President Donald Trump called Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday night and announced the trade deal after the conversation. The opposition says that India’s interests have been ignored in the trade deal with the US, and it will prove particularly harmful for the country’s farmers and livestock breeders. However, the Commerce Minister said that ‘the country’s sensitive interests in sectors like agriculture and animal husbandry have been fully protected.’ He said that according to the reports he is receiving, there is jubilation in every sector regarding this agreement.
He said that the trade deal with the US is going to open up major opportunities for India’s export sector. Describing India as the world’s fastest-growing economy, he said it will facilitate the supply of equipment for high-tech areas like data centers, semiconductors, and AI, as well as coking coal and other essential raw materials for its growing needs. He clarified that the $50 billion import figure from India mentioned by the US President is a five-year target.
Goyal criticized the opposition by referring to the uproar in Parliament. He said,
The Commerce Minister accused the Congress of showing double character and said,
Goyal said,
Accusing Rahul Gandhi of having a negative mindset, he said,
Regarding the announcement being made first by Trump, he said,
The Commerce Minister said that this agreement became possible under the leadership of PM Modi after months of negotiations to resolve various complex issues and problems. He said that due to the high 50% duty in the US market, our farmers, fishermen, textile, and apparel makers were facing difficulties. Goyal said that the Prime Minister will never compromise the interests of India’s farmers, livestock breeders, fishermen, and other sensitive sectors.
Goyal explained that the Prime Minister said,
He reiterated that sensitive sectors have been protected in the agreement with the US. Commerce Minister of State Jitin Prasad and Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal were also present with Goyal at the press conference. Goyal did not take any questions from the media on this statement.