### Strengthening Global Supply Chains: India’s Commitment to Critical Minerals In a significant move to bolster its manufacturing capabilities, India participated in a ministerial meeting focused on critical minerals, hosted by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington, D.C. on January 13, 2026. The meeting aimed to address the vulnerabilities in global supply chains for critical minerals, particularly rare earth elements, which are essential for advanced manufacturing and technology sectors. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized India's commitment to securing and diversifying these supply chains, especially in light of China's dominance in mineral refining [https://www.livemint.com/economy/critical-minerals-in-focus-as-india-attends-session-hosted-by-scott-bessent-ashwini-vaishnaw-hails-positive-meeting-11768281980877.html][https://www.cnbctv18.com/india/ashwini-vaishnaw-participates-in-critical-minerals-meeting-in-washington-meets-us-treasury-secy-ws-l-19819656.htm]. ### Key Aspects of the Ministerial Meeting 1. **Focus on Supply Chain Resilience**: The meeting highlighted the need for resilient supply chains to mitigate risks associated with over-reliance on specific countries for critical minerals. 2. **Derisking Strategies**: Participants discussed "derisking" as a preferred approach over economic decoupling, aiming to ensure secure access to essential minerals while maintaining global trade relationships [https://www.news9live.com/india/ashwini-vaishnaw-attends-us-led-critical-minerals-ministerial-meeting-to-strengthen-global-supply-chains-2919106]. 3. **Technology Sharing and Recycling**: Vaishnaw underscored the importance of technology sharing and recycling initiatives to support India's growing manufacturing and electronics sectors [https://apacnewsnetwork.com/2026/01/ashwini-vaishnaw-highlights-need-for-resilient-critical-mineral-supply-chains-at-us-ministerial-meet]. 4. **Global Collaboration**: The meeting brought together finance ministers from major economies, fostering collaboration to address key vulnerabilities in the supply chain for critical minerals [https://www.newkerala.com/news/a/union-minister-ashwini-vaishnaw-participates-critical-minerals-ministerial-690.htm]. ### Supporting Evidence and Data - **Ministerial Participation**: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw represented India at the meeting, which included discussions on securing critical minerals vital for advanced manufacturing [https://www.thehawk.in/news/economy-and-business/robust-critical-mineral-supply-chains-vital-to-boost-indias-manufacturing-goals-ashwini-vaishnaw]. - **Global Context**: The meeting was part of a broader initiative involving G7 finance ministers, emphasizing the strategic importance of critical minerals in global economic stability [https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/world/union-minister-ashwini-vaishnaw-participates-in-critical-minerals-ministerial-meeting-hosted-by-us-treasury-secretary]. ### Conclusion: A Strategic Move for India’s Future **India's participation in the Critical Minerals Ministerial Meeting marks a pivotal step towards enhancing its manufacturing capabilities and securing essential supply chains.** 1. **Commitment to Resilience**: The focus on resilient supply chains is crucial for India's economic strategy, particularly in the context of global dependencies. 2. **Collaborative Efforts**: Engaging with global leaders underscores India's proactive approach to addressing supply chain vulnerabilities. 3. **Long-term Goals**: The discussions align with India's vision of becoming a manufacturing hub, ensuring access to critical resources necessary for technological advancement. By prioritizing these strategies, India aims to fortify its position in the global market while reducing risks associated with critical mineral supply chains [https://www.orissapost.com/strengthening-critical-mineral-supply-chains-vital-to-enhance-indias-manufacturing-capability-resilience-vaishnaw].