India’s MSMEs Should Prioritize Manufacturing and Local Supply Chain Development: Nivruti Rai, Invest India
Ms. Nivruti Rai, Managing Director & CEO of Invest India, addressed industry leaders at the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), outlining a bold and strategic vision to accelerate India’s economic transformation through high-quality Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), technology collaboration, and rapid scaling of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). With decades of experience spanning semiconductor innovation, cutting-edge research, and AI-led solutions, Ms. Rai brought a sharp, future-ready perspective to India’s investment priorities.
In her remarks, Ms. Rai stressed that India’s next wave of growth hinges on strengthening manufacturing and building resilient, localized supply chains. She noted that while the country has benefited from its strong services and consumption-led economy, the path to doubling GDP will require MSMEs to shift gears and invest in technology-driven manufacturing capabilities. Reducing dependency on a handful of global suppliers—especially in critical sectors like semiconductors, logistics, and advanced manufacturing—remains central to India’s economic strategy.
Highlighting Invest India’s proactive approach, she introduced KYO & KYI (Know Your Opportunity and Know Your Investors)—a curated global matchmaking platform connecting Indian businesses with potential investors, technology partners, and international market opportunities. The initiative aims to help emerging companies access licensing, capital, and global value chains with greater speed and precision.
Ms. Rai outlined seven high-potential sectors automotive, electric vehicles, electronics, pharmaceuticals, genetics, biology, and clean energy where India is primed to scale rapidly. She emphasized that India now presents one of the world’s most compelling markets for investors, offering strong returns, policy stability, and a conducive environment for innovation-led growth. She reaffirmed Invest India’s commitment to guiding global and domestic investors in building long-term, value-driven partnerships.
Welcoming Ms. Rai, Mr. Rajeev Juneja, President, PHDCCI, remarked on the importance of aligning national investment strategies with industry readiness. He underscored PHDCCI’s dedication to strengthening the MSME ecosystem, noting that collaboration between chambers, businesses, and investment promotion agencies is essential to unlocking India’s full industrial potential. He echoed Ms. Rai’s view that local manufacturing, supported by strategic capital flow and technology adoption, is key to building a sustainable and competitive economy.
The dialogue between Invest India and PHDCCI marks a significant step toward creating a unified ecosystem in which enterprises of all sizes can thrive. Both organizations expressed a shared commitment to advancing India’s industrial capabilities, deepening global partnerships, and accelerating the country’s journey toward becoming a leading global manufacturing and innovation hub.
