Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held separate meetings with senior executives of Mondelez International and Hyatt in Chicago on Friday, with discussions focusing on expanding the companies’ presence in India and deepening their investments and operations in the country.
Sitharaman met Luca Zaramella, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Mondelez International, with talks centred on the company’s growing presence in India and opportunities to further expand its manufacturing, sourcing, services and export footprint.
According to the Ministry of Finance, the discussions covered Mondelez’s continued investments in manufacturing and infrastructure in India, as well as opportunities to scale up its operations and integrate the country further into its global production and supply-chain network.
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Sitharaman welcomed Mondelez’s confidence in India and highlighted the country’s skilled talent base, expanding manufacturing capabilities and evolving supply-chain ecosystem as key factors creating opportunities for companies to serve both domestic and international markets.
The Finance Minister also outlined the government’s efforts to improve the ease and cost of doing business, pointing to regulatory simplification, digitalisation and improvements in infrastructure. These measures, she said, are aimed at creating an environment that enables global companies to deepen their long-term investments in India.
The government’s engagement with multinational companies comes against the backdrop of its broader push to strengthen India’s manufacturing capabilities and position the country as an increasingly important production and export hub. For companies with global supply chains, India’s expanding manufacturing ecosystem and availability of skilled talent could provide opportunities to increase local sourcing and production while catering to both Indian consumers and overseas markets.
Mondelez has a significant portfolio in India and operates across categories including chocolate, biscuits and other snacking products. Its brands include Cadbury, Oreo and Bournvita.
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While the Ministry’s post did not disclose any specific investment amount or announce a new manufacturing project, the discussions indicate scope for the company to expand its production, sourcing, services and exports from India.
In a separate meeting, Sitharaman met Mark S. Hoplamazian, President and CEO of Hyatt, in Chicago, USA, with discussions focusing on Hyatt’s continued commitment to India and opportunities to further expand its presence in the country.
The meeting comes as India’s tourism and hospitality sector enters a new phase of growth, the Ministry of Finance said in a post on X.
Sitharaman highlighted India’s improving connectivity and infrastructure, which is opening up new tourism and commercial destinations. She noted that Tier-II and Tier-III cities are emerging as important centres of economic activity and travel.
The Finance Minister also highlighted growing opportunities in destination-led tourism, including spiritual, cultural, wellness, medical, nature and experiential tourism.
She encouraged Hyatt to leverage its global expertise and asset-light model to deepen partnerships with Indian developers and investors.
Sitharaman also suggested exploring opportunities for talent development through the National Institute of Hospitality and identified GIFT City as a potential financing and treasury hub for Hyatt’s growing India operations.
The two meetings underscore the government’s continued outreach to global businesses as it seeks to attract long-term investment, strengthen domestic manufacturing and services, and deepen India’s integration with international supply chains.
For Mondelez, greater investment in manufacturing and sourcing could strengthen India’s role within its broader global operations while supporting access to the country’s expanding domestic market. For Hyatt, expanding partnerships, talent development and the use of GIFT City could support the company’s growing India operations amid the expansion of the country’s tourism and hospitality sector.
Sitharaman is in Chicago as part of an official nine-day visit to Canada and the US from August 25 to September 2, 2026. The US leg began on August 28.
