A Steady India Offers the Wobbly World a Useful Anchor

The world today is undergoing a recalibration of trade ties.

- RAJESH NAMBIAR

From tariff escalation and geopolitical conflicts to export curbs and volatile commodities, the post-globalization order is fundamentally being reshaped. In the past five years, global businesses have had to rip up more playbooks than they have followed. Yet, despite robust global demand, cross-border business has grown increasingly complex.

Amid this uncertainty, where can businesses find predictability, scalability, and resilience? The answer increasingly is India. Global businesses are shifting East, especially to India, not because India is cheap, but because India has the potential. It stands out as a trusted, open, and steady innovation partner. But this is not only about resilience. It is about readiness.

In 2020, a moment of collective transformation unfolded almost overnight as a billion Indians moved their lives online. Classrooms went virtual, groceries were ordered through apps, offices went digital, and payments were made with a fingerprint. Yet, the network held steady, systems scaled efficiently, and people adapted swiftly. It was proof of preparedness.

India is no longer the world's back office. With Silicon Valley giants building their largest hubs here and global capability centers (GCCs) driving global digital operations, India is becoming the brain and increasingly also the backbone of global tech.