Sunil Mittal: India Must Scale to $30 Trillion Economy to Truly Arrive

Sunil Bharti Mittal stated at Davos that while India is positioned to become the world's third-largest economy, a $6-7 trillion GDP is insufficient for its population. He argued the nation must target a $25-30 trillion economy to truly arrive, requiring an enabling business environment and strategic trade partnerships. Mittal highlighted completed agreements with the UK and UAE, and priorities with the EU and US, as critical for future growth. He also expressed confidence in India's frugal innovation in AI and sustained 6-8% growth driven by manufacturing and a young domestic market.

Key Points: Sunil Mittal on India's Path to a $30 Trillion Economy

  • India poised as third-largest economy
  • Need to target $30 trillion GDP
  • Trade pacts with UK, UAE, EU key
  • Frugal AI innovation a strength
  • PLI scheme boosting manufacturing exports
3 min read

India will be third-largest economy, to truly arrive we should scale to USD 30 trillion : Sunil Mittal in Davos

Bharti's Sunil Mittal says India is set to be 3rd-largest economy but must target $30 trillion to truly arrive, citing trade deals and AI innovation.

"To truly arrive, we must scale to 25 or 30 trillion dollars. - Sunil Bharti Mittal"

Davos, January 21

India is well positioned to emerge as third-largest economy and should scale up its efforts to become USD 30 trillion economy, Bharti Enterprises Founder and Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal said on Wednesday.

He underscored the importance of trade partnerships, policy stability and technology-led growth.

"We will become the world's third-largest economy, but six or seven trillion dollars for a population of over 1.5 billion does not add up. To truly arrive, we must scale to 25 or 30 trillion dollars. The timing may vary, but the destination is clear and unavoidable," Mittal said at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

"What the business community needs is an enabling environment, a committed government, and long-term stability, all of which are in place today. The global context, however, is far more competitive than it has ever been. China used decades of access to the US market to build deep manufacturing strength, advanced factories, and leadership in technology. India will have to chart its own path, and we are fortunate to have a vast domestic market of young and aspirational consumers to power that journey," he added.

He said the United States is a strong model, where "enterprise is actively encouraged and the ease of doing business is high".

"Singapore and the UAE also stand out as strong examples," he said.

Speaking on the trade partnerships and agreements, he said they will be critical to the next phase of growth.

"Agreements with the UK, Australia, New Zealand and the UAE are already done, and the EU and the US remain key priorities. At the same time, shifting global trade norms, including the push to reshore manufacturing, demand greater agility and strategic alignment," he noted.

Mittal believed that to secure the best deals, a country has to strengthen itself. Scale creates leverage, and India's advantage lies in its size, its young aspirational consumers, and its growing role as a producer for the world.

"By scaling technology, production, and digital public infrastructure alongside energy and physical assets, India is building resilience and momentum--and will secure fair, balanced partnerships with all major economies, including the United States," he said.

He also spoke on India's advancement in Artificial Intelligence (AI), and said India will advance in AI through frugal innovation. "We have the talent and intellectual capital to build powerful AI models without trillion-dollar investments, focusing instead on efficient and scalable capital deployment. India will pursue this in parallel," he said.

On the PLI scheme, he said it has already changed what is possible.

"Electronics and telecom manufacturing, once unthinkable, are now driving exports. With the energy I see across India and in Europe, I am confident India can sustain growth of 6 to 8 percent. Our future is strong, and disciplined execution will define how fast we get there," Mittal added.

India aspires to become a USD 30-35 trillion economy by 2047.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
It's inspiring to hear such confidence from our business leaders. The point about our young, aspirational domestic market is key. We are the consumers who will drive this growth. But I hope this scaling up also means better jobs and wages for the middle class, not just big numbers.
R
Rohit P
Frugal innovation in AI is our superpower! We don't need to copy the West's spend-a-trillion model. Our engineers can build efficient, scalable solutions. Jugaad with high-tech is the Indian way forward. Very optimistic after reading this.
S
Sarah B
While the vision is grand, the execution is what matters. Trade deals are critical, but we must ensure they are truly fair and don't compromise on our farmers' or small businesses' interests. Stability is good, but policies also need to be adaptable.
V
Vikram M
The comparison with China's path is telling. They had decades of unfettered access. We have to be smarter and leverage our democracy and digital stack. The goal is clear, but the road will need massive investment in education and skilling our youth.
K
Karthik V
Respectfully, while I appreciate the big picture, talk of $30 trillion feels distant when basic infrastructure in many towns is still poor. Growth must be inclusive and felt on the ground. Let's fix the basics while aiming for the stars.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50