FDI in India likely to cross $80 billion mark again in 2026 amid strong reforms, trade pacts

29 Dec 2025 Evaluate

Expressing optimism over India’s growth foreign direct investments (FDI) inflows, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) Secretary Amardeep Singh Bhatia has expressed hopes that in year 2026, FDI likely to cross the last year's all-time high of $80.62 billion. The growth in FDI likely to be supported by strong macroeconomic fundamentals, big-ticket investment announcements, sustained efforts to improve the ease of doing business, and a new generation of investment-linked trade pacts. He noted that in the last eleven years, the country attracted remarkable investments on account of a series of measures taken by the government.

With an aim to ensure that India remains an attractive and investor-friendly destination, the government reviews the FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) policy on an ongoing basis and makes changes from time to time after holding extensive consultations with stakeholders. The DPIIT has this year held a series of meetings with stakeholders on ways to promote FDI. In November, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal also held consultations on ways to attract greater investments by making processes faster, smoother, and more efficient. Investor-friendly policies and regulatory practices, strong return on investments, a talented workforce, easing compliance burdens, decriminalising minor industry-related offences, and streamlined approvals are key measures that are keeping foreign investors focused on India despite global challenges.

India is also banking on its free trade agreement with the four-nation European Free Trade Association (EFTA), under which the bloc has committed to invest $100 billion in foreign direct investment into the country over 15 years. The pact came into force on October 1, 2025, and on the very day of its implementation, Swiss healthcare major Roche Pharma announced a commitment to invest 1.5 billion Swiss francs (about Rs 17,000 crore) in India over the next five years. This will be pure FDI and not foreign institutional or portfolio investments by sovereign wealth funds of the EFTA nations - Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. A similar commitment of $20 billion has been made by New Zealand under its trade pact with India, which is slated to be implemented in 2026.

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