Piyush Goyal reassures investors of India's inherent strengths even as Trump's trade strikes continue

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has underscored India’s role as a hub for talent, innovation, and clean energy, even as recent US policy shifts raise concerns for Indian professionals. His remarks came at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum on September 24, days after President Donald Trump’s administration revised H-1B visa norms and raised the fee to $100,000. Addressing industry leaders, Goyal said India’s contribution to global corporations extends far beyond low-cost labour.“We also provide a huge amount of talent and innovation, for which Indian engineers and graduates are famous. That provides us an opportunity to support corporations across the world, including in the US, with growth plans, research and new ideas,” news agency ANI quoted Goyal as saying. The minister pointed to India’s vibrant start-up ecosystem, where young firms are offering solutions that move beyond traditional sectors.According to him, this dynamism reflects a long-term vision of innovation and entrepreneurship first pushed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he was Chief Minister of Gujarat. Goyal also highlighted India’s progress in clean energy. The country, he said, is positioned to expand its renewable capacity from the current 250 gigawatts to 550 gigawatts within five years. Half of India’s 500-gigawatt national grid is already renewable, offering a level of resilience few nations can match. “This integrated grid provides socialised demand management across the country and is a unique advantage for global investors, especially those setting up data centres,” Goyal said. He projected that total grid capacity could reach 1,000 gigawatts in the coming years. Nuclear power featured as another area of cooperation between New Delhi and Washington. Goyal said the two nations are working through long-standing issues to enable greater private sector participation in nuclear energy, including in small modular reactors.India, Goyal noted, expects to double its nuclear power capacity through government-led projects, though challenges remain in terms of costs and pricing. By framing India as both a source of skilled workers and a growing clean energy market, the minister sought to reassure investors that the country remains a reliable partner despite protectionist shifts abroad.For businesses concerned about the steep visa fee hike, his message was clear: India’s strength lies not just in its workforce but in the scale of opportunities it can offer.