Anand Sharma (born 5 January 1953) is an Indian politician and former Union Cabinet Minister in charge of Commerce and Industry and Textiles in the Government of India. Since June 2014, Sharma was the Deputy Leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament till 2022. Early life and education Anand Sharma is the son of P. A. Sharma and Prabha Rani Sharma and was born in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. He was educated at R.P.C.S.D.B. College (now R.K.M.V. College), Shimla and Faculty of Law, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla. Career Sharma was a prominent leader in the student and youth movement in India, a founder member of the Congress Party's students wing the NSUI. He was also a former President of the Indian Youth Congress. Sharma asserts that the country needed investment in the manufacturing sector and the cost of credit must be brought down for this purpose. In February 2012, Sharma led a business delegation of more than 120 people to Pakistan for improving trade ties. During this visit, he discussed the revision of the existing visa bilateral agreement, signed in 1974, with his Pakistani counterpart Makhdoom Muhammad Ameen Faheem, to facilitate travel by bona fide businessmen from both the countries. As India's commerce and Industry Minister, he had taken major policy initiatives to accelerate Manufacturing and attract Foreign investments in India. Anand Sharma, was instrumental in making of India's first National Manufacturing policy (NMP) in 2011, with the objective to raise the share of manufacturing from 16 to 25 percent of GDP and creation of 100 million skilled jobs in a decade. To achieve that, the policy envisaged establishment of greenfield integrated manufacturing cities; NIMZ-National Investment and Manufacturing Zones. Sixteen NIMZ were notified. As Minister responsible for National Investment Policy, he piloted the opening of many sectors for FDI including Defence, and Civil Aviation. India allowed 100% FDI in Single Brand retail and opened up Multi Brand retail to Foreign Investors. The e-Biz Project was conceptualised and rolled out to improve business and investment climate. Post Global Economic Crisis, India emerged as an alternative destination for Foreign Investors and during Anand Sharma's five years tenure received 190 bn USD as FDI. He gave a forward looking Foreign Trade Policy ensuring its stability and predictability. It yielded positive dividend and India's merchandise exports almost doubled during 2010–2014. Anand Sharma is credited with playing a critical leadership