Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush goyal said India is rapidly emerging as a preferred global destination for data centres, driven by trusted international partnerships, affordable data access, expanding renewable energy capacity and strong power infrastructure.
The Minister stated that cloud services provided from India or Indian data centres to the global market will enjoy 100 per cent tax-free status until 2047. He said investments in data centres are expected to boost sectors such as real estate, hospitality, logistics, transport, healthcare, education and manufacturing, creating large-scale economic opportunities.
Goyal urged industries to improve productivity and minimise waste by adopting global best practices, including Japanese manufacturing techniques. Despite international challenges such as tariffs, the Ukraine conflict and tensions in West Asia, he noted that India achieved record exports worth USD 863 billion last year, with strong growth in both goods and services exports.
Highlighting India’s growing economic strength, the Minister said the country has become a competitive manufacturing and services hub. Referring to Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with 38 countries, he said these agreements provide significant opportunities for increasing exports and attracting investments and called on Indian businesses to make full use of them.
He said the government remains committed to supporting industry growth through initiatives such as the Bhavya project and the planned development of 100 industrial parks, of which 20 are already progressing at different stages. The government is also examining the creation of single-window authorities in industrial parks to simplify central and state approvals. Goyal encouraged stronger private sector participation in improving government systems and ease of doing business. He said businesses should actively collaborate with the government in identifying operational challenges and suggesting reforms.
The Minister stressed the importance of exporting value-added products such as automobiles, electronics, consumer goods and agro-based products instead of raw materials, so that farmers and fishermen receive better returns for their produce.
He also highlighted tourism and domestic consumption as important drivers of economic growth and encouraged citizens to promote Indian destinations. Referring to the success of the Ujala LED bulb programme, he said the initiative significantly reduced energy consumption and helped save nearly one lakh crore rupees annually. Goyal said India is now aiming to achieve exports worth USD 1 trillion and urged exporters to prepare for upcoming FTAs by exploring new markets and increasing international engagement in advance. He further informed that the Commerce Ministry, which operates through 482 offices across 216 cities under 46 organisations, is working to establish integrated service centres in major cities and state capitals. These centres will provide businesses easier access to services related to DGFT, Coffee Board, Spices Board, GeM and other organisations through digitally connected systems.
Calling for a greater focus on quality, innovation, localisation and energy efficiency, the Minister suggested that industry and government should jointly develop performance scorecards to monitor progress in key sectors. Goyal urged all stakeholders to work together to make India’s Amrit Kaal journey towards Viksit Bharat more efficient, collaborative and result oriented.
