Invest India
Invest India is the national investment promotion and facilitation agency of the Government of India, established to attract, facilitate, and retain foreign as well as domestic investment in the country. Operating under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, it functions as the central agency for investors seeking to explore business opportunities in India’s diverse economic landscape.
Background and Establishment
Invest India was founded in 2009 as a non-profit venture under Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956 (now Section 8 under the Companies Act, 2013). It was created as a joint venture between the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), and State Governments of India. The DPIIT holds the majority stake, reflecting the Government’s strategic intent to centralise and professionalise investment promotion efforts across the country.
Its establishment aligned with India’s broader goal of transforming into a global investment destination, particularly after the 1991 economic liberalisation that opened various sectors to foreign investment. By the late 2000s, India needed a single-window body to coordinate between central and state governments, facilitate investor queries, and ensure efficient project implementation—needs that Invest India was designed to fulfil.
Objectives and Functions
The principal mission of Invest India is to act as the first point of contact for potential investors and to assist in the entire investment lifecycle—from pre-investment advisory and policy consultation to implementation and aftercare services.
Key objectives include:
- Promotion of FDI (Foreign Direct Investment): Encouraging investment inflows across strategic and emerging sectors.
- Facilitation of Ease of Doing Business: Offering investors assistance with regulatory clearances, site selection, and policy interpretation.
- Sectoral and Regional Outreach: Conducting sectoral studies and promoting specific industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, renewable energy, and digital services.
- Start-up and Innovation Support: Running initiatives like Start-up India, AGNIi (Accelerating Growth of New India’s Innovations), and Scale-up support programmes.
- Coordination with State Governments: Creating state-level investment promotion agencies and strengthening local ecosystems for entrepreneurship and investment.
Invest India operates with a proactive, investor-centric model, offering tailor-made services and functioning through specialised verticals that handle sector-specific investment proposals.
Organisational Structure
The agency is structured as a public–private partnership with equity participation from DPIIT, FICCI, and state governments. Its headquarters are located in New Delhi, and it employs professionals with expertise in finance, law, engineering, and international trade.
The Board of Directors is chaired by the Secretary of DPIIT, while senior officials from FICCI and representatives from partner states form part of the governing council. Invest India also collaborates with several ministries, embassies, and international trade bodies to maintain a continuous dialogue on investment policy and promotion.
Major Initiatives and Programmes
Over the years, Invest India has implemented and supported several landmark initiatives:
- Make in India: One of the flagship programmes launched in 2014, designed to transform India into a global manufacturing hub. Invest India acts as the operational arm for investment facilitation in this initiative.
- Start-up India: Launched in 2016, this programme fosters entrepreneurship through funding, incubation, and policy support. Invest India hosts the official Start-up India Hub, which connects entrepreneurs with investors, incubators, and government schemes.
- One District One Product (ODOP): Promotes unique products and traditional industries from different districts across India to boost exports and local employment.
- Project Monitoring Group (PMG): Facilitates the resolution of bottlenecks in large-scale infrastructure and industrial projects.
- Prime Minister’s Gati Shakti National Master Plan: Supports the coordination of multi-modal infrastructure projects through digital platforms and data integration.
Invest India also manages the India Investment Grid (IIG)—a dynamic online platform showcasing live and investment-ready projects from across states and sectors.
Achievements and Global Recognition
Invest India has received several awards and accolades for its performance in investment facilitation and promotion. It was recognised as the World’s Best Investment Promotion Agency by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in 2020, reflecting its effectiveness and transparency.
Notable achievements include:
- Facilitating billions of dollars in FDI inflows into sectors such as electronics, renewable energy, food processing, logistics, and digital services.
- Supporting over 100,000 start-ups through the Start-up India initiative.
- Creating sectoral reports and investment guides that attract global investors from the United States, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and Germany.
- Playing a significant role in attracting investments from major multinational corporations such as Apple, Amazon, Foxconn, Tesla, and Google.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Invest India launched the Business Immunity Platform (BIP)—an online portal providing real-time updates, policy notifications, and business support to industries affected by the crisis.
Partnerships and International Collaboration
Invest India has forged partnerships with several international investment promotion agencies and global organisations. It collaborates with the World Bank Group, OECD, and World Economic Forum, among others, to align India’s investment climate with global standards. Bilateral collaborations exist with countries like Japan, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and Singapore to promote cross-border investments and joint ventures.
The agency also supports India’s participation in international expos, investor summits, and roadshows, thereby strengthening diplomatic and trade relations.
Impact on India’s Economic Growth
Invest India has played a pivotal role in improving India’s image as a business-friendly destination. Its efforts complement reforms in taxation, digitalisation, and infrastructure development, contributing to India’s steady climb in the Ease of Doing Business rankings.
By bridging gaps between the government and private sector, Invest India has created a more cohesive investment ecosystem. It has significantly contributed to the growth of manufacturing, services, and start-up ecosystems, thereby driving employment generation and regional development.
Moreover, its focus on sustainable investment has aligned with India’s commitments to green growth, clean energy transition, and digital transformation.
Future Prospects
Looking forward, Invest India aims to further strengthen its global presence by setting up investment desks in major economic centres worldwide. It continues to emphasise sustainability, innovation, and technology-driven industries, aligning with India’s broader vision of becoming a $5 trillion economy.
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