India could emerge as an alternative investment destination for US companies doing business in China in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic,

a view that the US government’s Department of State is supporting.

In a meeting held last week between a senior official of the US Department of State and representatives of large American companies operating in India,

through the American Chamber of Commerce in India, the importance of India as a potential destination for businesses shifting from China was underlined.

India can quickly become a favourable jurisdiction for more of the industrial activities that are happening currently in China.

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Representatives of several US-based companies have also been advised to propose to the Indian government to offer incentives that would facilitate proliferation of US businesses in India,

thus creating aready environment for more businesses to come to the country.

The move would be well timed with the Indian government developing strategies to attract investment from overseas, including that coming out from China.

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On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is learnt to have asked state chief ministers to explore possibility of attracting investments

from companies exiting from China and that they should have ready strategies to welcome industries on a state-level.

The government wants to get more investment into India, with ministries such as road transport, highways and MSMEs

eager to fast track permissions to companies wanting to shift their operations from China to India.