New Delhi: Amid a buoyant day for Indian markets, where Sensex and Nifty surged to close in the green, a bold US corporate move has further fuelled optimism: pharmaceutical powerhouse Eli Lilly and Company has pledged a whopping $1 billion (approximately ₹8,879 crore) investment in India, defying President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff policies on global trade.
The announcement underscores India’s rising allure as a biotech hub, with Eli Lilly eyeing enhanced manufacturing and supply chain capabilities to meet soaring demand for its innovative drugs.
At the heart of this expansion is a state-of-the-art centre in Hyderabad that is set to serve as the nerve centre for the company’s nationwide production network. This facility will drive high-end technology and innovation services, bolstering local production of critical medications.
Eli Lilly, fresh from launching its blockbuster weight-loss and diabetes drug Mounjaro in India earlier this year, is capitalising on the nation’s exploding market for obesity and diabetes treatments. Experts attribute the move to strategic foresight, positioning the firm to outpace competitors in a sector projected to grow exponentially amid rising lifestyle diseases.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy hailed the development as a “testament to Hyderabad’s emergence as a trusted global health services innovation centre.” He emphasised that the infusion will spawn thousands of jobs and propel India’s biotech and pharma industries to new heights.
The company plans deep ties with local firms in Telangana to ramp up drug production and distribution, making therapies more accessible and affordable for millions. Patrick Johnson, Executive Vice President of Lilly International, affirmed, “This $1 billion commitment is a cornerstone of our global strategy to expand manufacturing and medicine supply.”
As global firms flock to India’s robust infrastructure and skilled talent pool, Eli Lilly’s bet signals confidence in the country’s economic resilience — proving that innovation trumps trade barriers every time.