As she attends the G20 Finance Ministers’ meet in Asheville, US, one message is loud and clear: “Come invest in India; not just to sell here, but to *make* here.” With global supply chains still shaky and trade tensions rising; especially around Iran and China; India is playing a smart, balanced game. While the US pushes for tougher sanctions on Iran, India’s quietly protecting its strategic ties, including the Chabahar port project. And on China? India’s echoing US concerns about cheap imports but warning against blanket protectionism that could hurt emerging economies like its own. What’s smart is how Sitharaman’s linking India’s domestic reforms; from AI to defence to clean energy; to global business needs. She’s telling CEOs: “Yes, we’re a billion+ consumer market. But more importantly, we’re building the infrastructure, the policies, and the ecosystem to be your long-term production base.” The backdrop? A world looking for alternatives. And India’s saying: “We’re ready.” If global firms listen, this could be the quiet turning point where India stops being just a market; and becomes a global manufacturing engine.