My Reflections 2024-25

With the turn of 2024, we have turned the page to a historical moment—a quarter of a century. It is striking to consider how much history has been compressed into these 25 years. This has been no ordinary span of time. This has been an era of tectonic shifts. From the dawn of the digital age and the globalisation of economies to the climate reckoning and the relentless march of artificial intelligence, these years have witnessed transformations that once would have taken centuries to unfold. In many ways, eras have collided, overlapped, and dissolved into each other, leaving a world forever altered—more connected yet divided, more advanced yet anxious, and more hopeful yet uncertain than ever before.

- BY KUMAR MANGALAM BIRLA, CHAIRMAN, ADITYA BIRLA GROUP

It is evident that in 2025, we will be embracing a U3 world— uncertain, unpredictable, and unorthodox world. Importantly, we will be embracing an uncertain world, not wrestling with it. This reset could well define the paradox of our age—a world teeming with possibility but shadowed by lingering ambiguity. At times, it may feel like the new world is being shaped on social media streams. Reality, though, is far more intricate and consequential than a reel.

The one factor that could disproportionately influence the course of the year is the T factor—The Trump Factor. This holds the potential to reshape geopolitical dynamics, with profound implications for the global economy and business. The United States has long been the most significant market for our Group outside India, with investments exceeding $15billion, including a $4billion Greenfield expansion currently underway. I remain confident that the enduring strength of the India-US relationship will continue to deepen in the years ahead. The US economy's dynamism remains unmatched, and our ongoing investments will contribute to the revitalization of its growing manufacturing sector. As Warren Buffett aptly put it, “Never bet against America.”

There new global push for manufacturing is a welcome shift, signalling a move towards greater resilience and diversification in global supply chains. India, often under-appreciated for its industrial capabilities, is poised to seize this moment. The migration of Apple's ecosystem to India is emblematic of this transition; soon, a quarter of the world's iPhones could be made in India. India's automobile ecosystem, too, has matured into a global powerhouse, exporting components and vehicles to markets worldwide.