Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said he held extensive discussions with Howard Lutnick and Sergio Gor to accelerate trade cooperation between India and the United States. Describing the interaction as constructive and forward-looking, Goyal said both sides explored ways to scale up bilateral commerce and strengthen long-term economic engagement.

The meeting focused on identifying new sectors for collaboration and easing pathways for businesses in both countries. According to officials familiar with the talks, discussions covered supply chain resilience, technology partnerships, and greater market access for goods and services. Goyal later shared that the dialogue reflected a shared commitment to deepen economic integration between the world’s two major democracies.

India has been actively positioning itself as a reliable global trade partner, aiming to expand exports and integrate domestic industries into international value chains. The government has been encouraging Indian enterprises to widen their global footprint while simultaneously attracting foreign investment into high-growth sectors such as manufacturing, digital services, clean energy, and advanced technologies.

Highlighting India’s broader trade strategy, Goyal reiterated that the country has already signed nine Free Trade Agreements covering 38 nations. These agreements are designed to lower tariffs, simplify procedures, and provide Indian exporters with preferential access to key markets. He noted that sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, textiles, and services have begun to benefit from improved overseas access, while skilled professionals are finding expanded mobility opportunities under these trade frameworks.

The minister also emphasised that the vision of “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” is not rooted in economic isolation. Instead, he said it is built on creating competitive domestic capabilities that can connect confidently with global supply chains. According to him, diversified and trusted trade partnerships are central to this strategy, ensuring stability while opening new channels for growth.

Speaking at a recent industry event in Mumbai, Goyal expressed optimism about India’s economic trajectory, stating that entrepreneurs and young innovators will play a defining role in shaping the nation’s journey toward becoming a developed economy by 2047. He underscored that government policy will continue to focus on empowering MSMEs, farmers, exporters, and emerging enterprises to compete globally.