‘US-China Rivalry Big Part Of Cause Behind Overall Global Disturbance’ | HTLS 2026

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has called on India to strengthen its manufacturing capabilities and build itself into a manufacturing power, speaking at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit 2026. Jaishankar said India must pursue traditional manufacturing while supporting small and medium enterprises, investing in semiconductors and upgrading its life sciences sector. He stressed that the country would need to address multiple levels of industrial development to navigate an increasingly challenging global environment. On the proposed India-US trade deal, Jaishankar said negotiations were in their final stretch and that the bulk of the issues had already been sorted out. He acknowledged that some outstanding concerns remained, adding that in many cases they were not on India's side. The External Affairs Minister expressed hope that the two countries would conclude the agreement soon.