India emerging as anchor of global stability and growth: Global experts
New Delhi, April 29
India is increasingly being viewed as a key force capable of shaping global peace, economic stability and technological progress, global experts said on Wednesday.
Speaking to IANS on the sidelines of the Economist Enterprise 'Resilient Futures Summit 2026'here, they emphasised India's rising influence in navigating geopolitical uncertainty, strengthening multilateral cooperation, and driving innovation in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
Danny Quah, Li Ka Shing professor in economics, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, noted that the evolving nature of global terrorism and shifting trade dynamics have injected significant uncertainty into the world economy.
Quah emphasised that beyond trade disruptions, a deeper concern lies in the erosion of global trust and weakening of multilateral systems that have traditionally underpinned international cooperation.
"India can play a big role in it and if India tries, there will be peace. People are looking towards India to bring a peace. I think people are looking to India to exercise appropriate leadership. It is still up to India to decide what appropriate," he told IANS.
Adding to this perspective, Ian Blatchford, Director of the Science Museum in London, highlighted India's distinctive and optimistic approach towards artificial intelligence.
"If you look at public surveys in America and Europe, the majority of the population is nervous about artificial intelligence. The opposite is true in India. India is building capacity for artificial intelligence centres while also thinking deeply about what that means," Blatchford said.
Blatchford also praised the broader achievements of the Global South, particularly India's developmental trajectory.
"The country is striving to balance economic growth with the need to improve quality of life, even as it grapples with challenges such as rising energy demand," Blatchford told IANS.
"This stands in contrast to Western economies that have already benefited from decades of prosperity," he explained.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is encouraging but we need to be realistic. India has a massive population with huge aspirations. Can we sustain this growth while tackling poverty, infrastructure gaps, and climate change? The world is looking at us, but we need to look inward too. Actions speak louder than summits.
Well said! India's leadership in AI and emerging tech is no joke. We have the talent, the startups, and the government push. The West is scared of AI because they see it as a threat, but we see it as an opportunity to leapfrog. Global trust is eroding, but India can be the bridge between East and West. ✌️
Interesting perspective from Singapore. But let's be honest—India has a long way to go before it can truly anchor global stability. Its domestic challenges (income inequality, regional tensions, energy needs) are still massive. The optimism is nice, but I'll believe it when I see consistent foreign policy and economic resilience.
The best part is that India is balancing growth with quality of life—something Western economies never had to worry about during their industrialisation. We're trying to do it right from the start. Plus, our democratic resilience in a fragmented world is a huge strength. Proud but cautious. 😊
I agree with the positive sentiment, but we must not let this go to our heads. India can be a peacemaker only if we resolve our own internal conflicts first. The erosion of multilateral trust is real, and India should use its soft power (culture, diaspora, tech) to rebuild that trust, not just talk at summ
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.