India’s promoters and CEOs are racing to set up new factories and businesses, a trend that management adviser Ram Charan says has never been more favorable despite a turbulent global backdrop.
AI ambition meets on‑the‑ground expansion
When asked about the twin forces shaping Indian industry—geopolitical upheavals and artificial intelligence—Charan highlighted an “ultra‑speed” drive to build. “India, under Mr Narendra Modi’s leadership, is on a growth path. Promoters are moving with ultra‑speed to build the nation, create new businesses… All of them,” he told BW Businessworld.
The momentum is evident in nearby economies, with Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates also seeing a surge in new production sites. “The opportunity to create new factories, new businesses has never been better,” he added, noting that major Indian corporations are “on fire.”
Related: UN flags risks to India’s realty sector
Readiness gaps in digital leadership
According to Charan, Indian companies “want it to be done badly. Very badly,” reflecting frustration over the lack of expertise. He pointed to a scarcity of chief digital officers, noting that “very few” exist and that “the legacy company people have a frustration, first, they don’t have the right chief digital officers.”
He argued that responsibility for AI deployment cannot rest solely with a single digital chief; rather, “it has to be run by operating people.”
In a brief comparison, Charan said other nations are also moving forward. “Brazil – I came out last Sunday, it’s moving. Mexico is moving. Singapore is moving. Korea is moving. In Saudi, they made mistakes but they are moving,” he remarked, implying that the global appetite for AI and new production capacity is widespread.
Related: New EU fee hits Aussie exporters
Government support and the road ahead
When pressed on how India can sustain its growth amid geopolitical strain, Charan placed credit squarely on the people and the current administration. “India doesn’t do anything; its people do. First, the Modi government – they get a straight ‘A’ from me. Because I compare the world. They focus. They announce goals. They are executing. They manage the adversity well. Stay the course,” he said.
Charan, who recently authored China’s 90% Model, did not provide specific metrics on new plant openings or AI investment levels, but his comments reflect a broader confidence among Indian promoters that the current environment is conducive to large‑scale projects.