Shekhawat Predicts 'Wonderful' 2026 for Indian Manufacturing, Hails Trade Pacts

Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has expressed strong optimism, declaring that 2026 will be a "wonderful" year for India's manufacturing sector. He attributes this positive outlook to cleared uncertainties following India-US talks and the significant India-UAE Free Trade Agreement. Shekhawat highlighted the specific boost for sectors like handicrafts, citing immense enthusiasm among exporters in his Jodhpur constituency. He also criticized opposition narratives on issues like the Citizenship Amendment Act as being built on falsehoods.

Key Points: 2026 to be 'Wonderful' for India's Manufacturing: Shekhawat

  • 2026 forecast for manufacturing boom
  • Momentum from India-US trade talks
  • Boost from India-UAE FTA
  • Positive impact on handicrafts exports
2 min read

Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat predicts 'Wonderful' 2026 for India's manufacturing

Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat forecasts a boom for India's manufacturing sector in 2026, citing India-US and India-UAE trade agreements.

"2026 is certainly going to be wonderful for the nation - Gajendra Singh Shekhawat"

New Delhi, February 3

Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat expressed optimism about the future of India's manufacturing sector following discussions on the India-US Trade Agreement.

Speaking to ANI, Shekhawat said that "2026 is certainly going to be wonderful" for the nation, anticipating significant momentum and broader scope for domestic manufacturing.

"I believe that with January 2026, a series of good news for India will begin. The year 2026 is definitely going to be wonderful for India. On the one hand, there is the India-UAE FTA (Free Trade Agreement), widely regarded as the "mother of all deals" to date. There is an atmosphere of positivity regarding it across the country and the world," said Union Minister Gajendra Singh."

"Following yesterday's conversation between the Honourable Prime Minister and the Honourable President of the United States, the uncertainty surrounding trade with America has suddenly cleared. India has once again emerged with an upper edge in the world of competitive exports. Certainly, as a result, manufacturing activities in India will gain momentum, strength, and scope," Gajendra Singh added.

The Union Minister further stated, "A very important sector that falls under the textile vertical is handicrafts. Since I am based in Jodhpur, a major hub for handicraft exports, we export more than ₹5,000 crore annually. I have spoken with all the major exporters and association members. There is an atmosphere of wonderful enthusiasm and extreme happiness among them. After the clouds of uncertainty clear, light becomes visible. On behalf of the handicraft manufacturers of Jodhpur and the artisans working in small handicrafts, I thank the Honourable Prime Minister from the heart and congratulate him for this unprecedented decision.

Criticising the opposition, he said many attempts have been made to build a narrative on the basis of lies.

"Trying to build a narrative based on lies without any foundation on any subject. Looking back over recent years, there have been many such attempts. Sometimes it's about SIR; sometimes it's about the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), and there is no basis, no root, no foundation. Since the Citizenship Amendment Act was introduced, I want to remind you that it was only for those neighbouring countries that were once part of India. People of Indian-origin religions that originated from India, practitioners of those faiths living in neighbouring countries who faced atrocities under political protection due to religious beliefs, came to India", said the Minister.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Sarah B
As someone working in the export sector in Chennai, I'm cautiously optimistic. Trade agreements are good, but the real test is implementation and ensuring MSMEs on the ground actually benefit. The ₹5000 crore handicraft export figure from Jodhpur is impressive, but we need this success replicated nationwide.
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Priya S
Wonderful to hear such confidence from a minister! My father is a small-scale artisan, and news like this gives hope. However, I wish the article focused more on concrete steps for 2026 rather than bringing in CAA and opposition criticism. Stay on topic, please.
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Rohit P
Predictions are easy, delivery is hard. We've heard "achhe din" for various sectors before. I'll believe it when I see more factories opening in my state and less reliance on Chinese imports. The US trade deal clarity is a big plus, though.
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Kavya N
The handicraft sector is the soul of India's manufacturing. Glad it's getting attention. If the US market opens up more for our handlooms and crafts, it will transform rural economies. Fingers crossed for 2026! 🪡🧵
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Michael C
Interesting read from an Indian perspective. The global supply chain shift is real, and India stands to gain. The minister's optimism is based on tangible trade talks, which is good. The key will be infrastructure and ease of doing business to compete with Vietnam and others.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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