'India Is On The Cusp Of Unprecedented Economic Expansion'

The Indian economy is on a roll. Stock markets are at an all-time high, while last year, for the first time, corporate India's return on equity (ROE) overcame the US RoE number. Bharat Shah, executive director, ASK Asset and Wealth Management group, in an interview with Kundan Kishore, Deputy Editor, Outlook Money, sheds light on where India stands in terms of value creation opportunities. Edited excerpts:

- Kundan Kishore

How do you perceive the current economic landscape, and do you believe we are on the verge of experiencing not just a singular golden decade, but rather many golden decades going forward?

I believe that our country is on the cusp of the greatest economic expansion it has ever witnessed. This expansion is not only unprecedented in comparison to our own historical achievements, but also surpasses any comparable examples worldwide. Consequently, the rate of economic growth will be a defining feature of what we are poised to witness for a significant period ahead.

What are the key drivers that make you confident that our economy will perform better?

The first factor is predictability. When something is more predictable, then it acquires a greater value, because what is predictable reduces uncertainty. If it reduces uncertainty, then it reduces risk, and what reduces risk becomes more valuable in the present because the value of a business is nothing, but evaluating the probability (of growth) in the future. So, risk reduction has a direct impact on improving the value. I think the first important change compared to the past is the predictability of growth.

The second factor is durability something which gives high growth, but only for a short period of time will only create that much. For something whose growth rate is not particularly exciting, the outcomes will still be self-limiting. But when the growth rate is high and it is durable, then something measurable is created.