Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman says China denies direct market access to Indian goods

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that China is denying India direct market access for bulk goods like buffalo meat and generic pharma drugs. Speaking at a literary festival, she explained that these Indian exports are instead routed through countries like Vietnam to reach China. Sitharaman also highlighted that the government is offering incentives to boost domestic manufacturing, particularly for active pharmaceutical ingredients, to reduce India's dependence on imports.