Beyond China+1: India in a new world

At the Mint Leadership Dialogues 2025, industry leaders debated India’s potential amid global realignments and the ‘China plus one’ narrative.

- Staff Writer

India is no longer just a country of promise. Today, it is a pivot in global supply chains, a magnet for investment, and a market brimming with talent and scale.

But as the second discussion of Mint Leadership Dialogues 2025, Season 2 showed, there is a gap between aspiration and action. The question at the centre of the debate: Can India truly become a global supply chain hub and an alternative to China?

Sanjaya Mariwala, founder and executive chairman of Omni Active Health Technologies, opened with a reality check. “There is an expectation,” he said, “but I’m not sure if that’s really being met effectively.” Optimism, however, was hard to miss. Amit Paithankar, whole-time director and chief executive officer (CEO) of Waaree Energies, reminded the audience that India’s opportunity is not new. “[’s been an opportunity five years ago, ten years ago, thirty years ago. And it’s our time to seize it.”

Girish Tanti, co-founder and vice chairman of Suzlon Group, emphasized focus over geopolitics. “It’s a very dynamic world,” he said. “There are pockets of opportunity where we are well-placed, and others where we are at a disadvantage. The key is to sharpen our skills and be the best at what we do. The market will follow.” Tanti added that industries that think globally from the outset tend to outperform, even in sectors where India already has strong domestic demand.