Albert Park, Chief Economist at the Asian Development Bank (ADB), has underscored the importance of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and reduced import tariffs in enhancing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in India. FDI inflows have significantly declined from $38.6 billion in the fiscal year 2021-22 to $10.2 billion in FY24, with a modest recovery to $3 billion during the first nine months of FY26. Park emphasized that the Indian government should continue lowering import tariffs and improve the manufacturing ecosystem by developing industrial zones equipped with robust infrastructure to attract foreign firms. He noted that uncertainty in the Asian market, exacerbated by the ongoing Middle East crisis, could lead to capital flight and warned that this crisis could shave off 0.6% from India's GDP growth, reducing it to 6.3%. Despite these challenges, ADB projects a robust GDP growth of 6.9% for the current fiscal year, driven by strong domestic demand. Park also indicated that crude oil prices are likely to remain elevated, averaging $96 per barrel in 2026, which could further impact inflation.