Archive · 3 Oct 2026
Goyal Pitches India as Global Data Centre Investment Hub
Piyush Goyal wants more American businesses to build data centres in India.
Data centres are buildings that store and process information for digital services.
He said India has a large electricity grid and is increasing its use of cleaner energy.
He also said companies can get clean power and build facilities for less money in India.
Goyal pointed to India’s many graduates in science and technology as another advantage.
He spoke at a gathering in Chicago.
He encouraged Indian Americans to help through investment, business ideas and sharing knowledge.
He also said India may send a business group to the region next year.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal urged American businesses and Indian American entrepreneurs to invest in Indian data centres.
Speaking at a Chicago community gathering, he promoted India’s electricity grid, renewable energy, lower infrastructure costs and technology workforce.
Goyal said the grid has 520 gigawatts of installed capacity and could reach 1,000 gigawatts in six to seven years.
He said clean energy accounts for 60 per cent of power capacity, with that share potentially rising to 70 per cent by 2033.
Goyal said India may send a large, multi-sector business delegation to the region in the first quarter of next year.
- Who
- Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, addressing American businesses and Indian American entrepreneurs.
- What
- Goyal encouraged investment in Indian data centres and presented India as a destination for data infrastructure and emerging technology.
- When
- During Goyal’s Chicago visit, which followed the G20 Trade Ministers’ Meeting in Milwaukee; the article gives no date.
- Where
- A community gathering in Chicago organised by the US Indian Community Foundation.
- Why
- Goyal cited India’s clean-energy access, lower infrastructure and data costs, and technology workforce as reasons to invest.
- Grid installed capacity
- 520 gigawatts, according to Goyal
- Projected grid capacity
- 1,000 gigawatts within six to seven years, according to Goyal
- Clean-energy share
- 60 per cent of capacity currently; potentially 70 per cent by 2033, according to Goyal
- Clean-power cost
- Goyal said an 80 per cent guaranteed clean-energy supply could cost seven to eight cents; fully clean supply could cost 11 to 12 cents
- Data centre construction costs
- Goyal said costs in India could be one-fourth to one-fifth of those in the United States or Europe
- Technology graduates
- Around 1.4 million students graduate annually in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, Goyal said
- Possible business delegation
- A large delegation covering several sectors may visit the region in the first quarter of next year