INDIA EMERGING FROM 'SHADOWS OF THE PAST'

Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Friday said India has emerged from the "shadows of the past" and is forging new global partnerships from a position of strength, as he outlined the country's expanding trade landscape and economic ambitions at the NXT 2026 summit.

- ANJALI SINGH

Speaking in a session titled "Next in Trade," moderated by NewsX Editor-in-Chief Rishabh Gulati, Goyal said India's trade strategy has evolved rapidly over the past six months, with several free trade agreements (FTAs) being negotiated and operationalised with developed economies.

"India today is engaging with the developed world with confidence, offering the world a trusted partnership of the fastest-growing large economy," Goyal said, adding that the country aims to expand from a $4 trillion economy to $30 trillion by 2047. The minister said India’s young population and expanding digital ecosystem are key drivers of its economic growth. With an average age of about 28.5 years and nearly a billion internet users, he noted that Indian youth are actively adopting emerging technologies, pointing to the country being among the largest users of ChatGPT globally.