India is going through Infrastructure Supercycle, says Agarwal
Delegates at the inaugural Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) Clean Economy Investor Forum in Singapore https://www.ipefinvestorforum.org/ipefinvestorforum were given an in-depth understanding of growing opportunities in India.
The Indian infrastructure and climate tech companies showcased their solutions and engaged with international investors to tap into global markets.
The meeting, held 5-6 June, had over 60 participants, including global investors from the US, Singapore, Japan, Australia, South Korea and other countries, as well as India’s private sector and government officials.
The event brought together investors and financial institutions from IPEF Member countries like that of Temasek http://temasek.com.sg, Global Infrastructure Partners http://global-infra.com , GuarantCo https://guarantco.com/ , Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) https://www.pidg.org/ , Goldman Sachs http://goldmansachs.com, I Squared Capital http://isquaredcapital.com , Mizuho Bank Ltd http://mizuhobank.com , Advantage Partners https://www.advantagepartners.com/en/ , Nomura, DBS Bank and Citi Bank http://citi.com .
The Indian High Commissioner to Singapore, Dr Shilpak Ambule, focused on the fundamentals that are driving Indian growth https://www.hcisingapore.gov.in/ .
He highlighted that investment in physical and digital infrastructure will have multiplier effects on the Indian economy, and that the legislative and regulatory changes have created a pro-market field, providing conducive and predictable policy environment.
Dr Ambule stressed on how shifting global supply chains and Indian efforts modernization of infrastructure will enable India to participate in them.
Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal stressed on how India’s growth rate is nearly double that of other emerging market economies https://commerce.gov.in/ .
He remarked on how this strong growth is also leading to a trend of ‘reverse flipping’, where Indian start-ups that once moved abroad for capital access and tax benefits are now returning home.
He emphasised how the digital economy along with emerging technologies like AI and rise of data centres were key to future Indian growth.
This was followed by an India opportunity presentation in which Invest India showcased the India’s through various government flagship initiatives like a flourishing startup ecosystem, a sizable pool of skilled and talented professionals across diverse industries, a push for investments in infrastructure projects, policy reforms aimed at streamlining regulations, enhancing transparency, and improving Ease of Doing Business.
MD and CEO of Invest India https://www.investindia.gov.in/ Nivruti Rai informed that India is keen on collaborating with investors, clean economy firms, and innovative startups to drive sustainable infrastructure, climate technology and renewable energy projects to meet Net Zero targets.
Speaking during the fireside chat titled the Charting India Opportunity https://www.sgx.com/ , DBS Senior Economist and Executive Director Radhika Rao underlined India’s strength in 4C’s – Consistency & Continuity in Policy and reforms; Increasing Capex through government, household spending and private sector; Composition of trade shifting towards manufacturing sectors; Increasing consumption over the next 5 years https://www.dbs.com/in/index/default.page .
“India is attracting investments in broad based sectors ranging from semiconductor assembly to testing, automobiles to capital goods,” according to Nomura http://nomuraholdings.com Managing Director and Chief Economist Sonal Varma.
Varma spoke in detail about the Nomura India report, highlighting that highest number of companies are looking at India https://www.bseindia.com/ than any other geography during their “Bottom’s up” study, a survey of around 130 companies mapping their investments in sectors and country.
India is going through Infrastructure Supercycle https://www.nseindia.com/ , which is an enabler for digital revolution and India is viewed as a secular investment opportunity, underscored Kunal Agarwal, Managing Director, I Squared.
The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) was launched in May 2022 and currently includes 14 partners – Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, United States and Vietnam.
The IPEF, comprising four pillars of cooperation, namely Trade, Supply Chain, Clean Economy and Fair Economy, provides a platform for countries in the region to collaborate on advancing resilient, sustainable, and inclusive economic growth and aims to contribute to cooperation, stability and prosperity in the region.
The IPEF Clean Economy Investor Forum, one of the initiatives under the IPEF, brought together the region’s top investors, philanthropies, financial institutions, innovative companies, start-ups and entrepreneurs to mobilise investments into sustainable infrastructure, climate technology and renewable energy projects. Fiinews.com