India Strategy Conference: 14 to 17 December 2023

Firms in the first quarter of the twenty first century have primarily relied on using technological disruptions to achieve competitive advantage and sustainable growth. Firms in India have been no exception primarily because of India’s large base of customers and talent that can support large scale automation. The combination of India being home to one sixth of the world’s population and the fast development of the digital ecosystems has worked very well for growth seeking firms – small and large. Having said that, demands of equitable and sustainable development have also challenged firms in India to pursue growth strategies.

The foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows have increased 20-fold  in the last 20 years. In the post-Covid era, India has emerged as a top preferred investment destination for multinational corporations. The FDI equity inflows in manufacturing rose by over 75% in FY 2021-22 as compared to the previous year. Major technology giants such as Google and Microsoft, and manufacturing firms such as Apple and Hyundai are looking at India as a future growth driver.