Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, during her visit to Vienna, pitched India as a strategic gateway to Asia and the global South.

Inviting Austrian investors to explore opportunities in green hydrogen, electric vehicles, digital infrastructure, and innovation. Speaking alongside Austrian Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer, she highlighted areas of mutual interest including renewable energy, life sciences, water management, and transport start-ups. Sitharaman noted that India offers scale, manufacturing strength, and human capital, while Austrian firms provide technological expertise, with many already operating capability centres in India. She emphasized leveraging these complementarities to boost bilateral ties. The visit comes amid global economic uncertainty and trade tensions, with both nations aiming to deepen cooperation in green and digital technologies and foster start-up ecosystems.