India Pushes Global Companies to Invest as Finance Minister Meets Mondelez Leader

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman convened with Luka Jaramela, the Executive Vice President and COO of Mondelez International, on August 29 in Chicago. The discussion focused on scaling the snack manufacturer’s operations across India, from manufacturing hubs to sourcing channels and export pathways.

Sitharaman lauded India's abundant skilled talent, expanding manufacturing footprint, and a rapidly developing supply‑chain ecosystem that can support worldwide enterprises. She reaffirmed the government's commitment to simplifying regulations, advancing digital services, and bolstering infrastructure to reduce costs and accelerate growth.

The dialogue underscored the Ministry’s aim to attract more foreign direct investment, encouraging companies to deepen long‑term commitments in the Indian market. The meeting coincided with India’s ambition to cement its status as a leading global manufacturing and supply‑chain hub.

Additionally, the minister met Shield AI co‑founder Brandon Tseng to discuss collaborative prospects in AI‑powered autonomous platforms, unmanned systems, and next‑generation defence technologies.