Bharti Enterprises Founder and Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal, speaking at the World Economic Forum 2026 in Davos, stated that while India's ascent to the world's third-largest economy is inevitable, the country must significantly scale its ambitions toward a USD 30 trillion valuation by 2047.

He argued that a USD 6–7 trillion economy is insufficient to provide true prosperity for a population of 1.5 billion, emphasizing that India's sheer size and its "continent of consumers" provide the necessary leverage to reach this higher target.

Mittal observed that India cannot replicate the export-led growth model that fueled China’s rise, as the global trade environment has become increasingly protectionist.

Instead, he highlighted that India must chart a unique path by leveraging its vast domestic market and robust digital public infrastructure.

He credited the government’s Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for transforming sectors like electronics and telecom manufacturing—once considered improbable—into major export drivers. Mittal expressed confidence that with disciplined execution, India can sustain a growth rate of 6% to 8%.

On the technological front, Mittal projected that India would lead in Artificial Intelligence through "frugal innovation."

He asserted that the country possesses the intellectual capital to develop powerful AI models without requiring trillion-dollar investments, focusing instead on scalable and efficient capital deployment.

Mittal also underscored the importance of securing strategic trade partnerships with the EU and the US to complement existing deals with the UK and UAE, ensuring India remains a resilient producer for the global market.

Source: ANI