GEC 2026 unites top officials from France, UK, UAE, USA, Australia, and more, crafting frameworks for resilient economic partnerships in a deglobalizing world. Goyal’s speech spotlighted India’s proactive trade diplomacy, sealing nine pacts in four years that balance protection for vulnerable sectors with export boosts.

‘We’re building alliances, deepening friendships, and striking strong trade deals,’ Goyal declared. FTAs invite nations to partake in India’s journey to third-largest economy status by 2027-28 and a developed powerhouse worth $30-35 trillion by mid-century.

FECC’s event, backed by government heavyweights and steered by leaders like Vijay Chauthaiwale, draws on an elite advisory panel including Mahindra’s Anand Mahindra and Bharat Forge’s Baba Kalyani. India’s 16 FTAs reflect a clear national strategy, shielding farmers and MSMEs while unlocking markets in pharma, agri, and tech.

Dr. S. Jaishankar captured the zeitgeist: a world in flux demands diversification; India counters with capacity-building and strategic alliances. CM Fadnavis framed GEC as pivotal amid supply chain reshuffles and geopolitically driven capital flows.

Kalyani invited global players to co-create with India, the linchpin of flexible global value chains via IMEC and recent trades. Sessions tackle everything from AI transitions to ESG and female empowerment in development.

This forum amplifies India’s clout, positioning it as the reliable bridge in a fragmented global order, fostering stability through inclusive, forward-looking cooperation.

Delving into the Economic Survey 2025-26, high-tech sectors dominate with 46.3% share in value added—a clear sign of upgrading from low-end assembly to sophisticated output. This evolution has lifted India’s rank in the global Competitive Industrial Performance index to 37th in 2023, up from 40th in 2022.

Looking ahead, manufacturing is central to Vision 2047’s $35 trillion goal, supported by regional initiatives and resilient supply chains. The recent budget amplifies this with focused pushes on R&D, capital spending, and ecosystem building.

Momentum built steadily: H1 FY26 industrial GVA rose 7% YoY, culminating in December’s 7.8% IIP surge—the best in 24 months after November’s revised 7.2%. Manufacturing led with 8.1% growth, driven by electronics (34.9%), autos (33.5%), and transport gear (25.1%).

As policymakers celebrate, experts note this isn’t fleeting—structural reforms are embedding competitiveness, positioning India as a manufacturing powerhouse amid global shifts.