NewKerala.com

India's Global Rise Under Modi: Fastest-Growing Economy Eyes Top Spot

A report highlights India's evolution into an ambitious global player under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, backed by its young, tech-savvy population. The IMF identifies India as the fastest-growing major economy, with a nominal GDP over $4 trillion, positioning it to surpass Japan and Germany by 2030. Modi's Act East Policy and personal diplomacy, such as his strong rapport with Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim, are key to deepening strategic ties in Southeast Asia. The robust India-Malaysia relationship, fueled by people-to-people links and trade nearing $18.6 billion, covers crucial areas from palm oil exports to semiconductor collaboration.

Key Points: India's Rise as Global Power Under PM Modi: Report

  • India is the fastest-growing major economy
  • Nominal GDP exceeds $4 trillion
  • Act East Policy strengthens Indo-Pacific influence
  • Strategic Malaysia partnership covers trade and defense
3 min read

PM Modi drives India's rise as global power: Report

India, the fastest-growing major economy, is projected to surpass Japan and Germany by 2030 under PM Modi's leadership, driven by strategic ties.

PM Modi drives India's rise as global power: Report
"Chemistry between leaders matters a lot in bilateral relations. - James Chai"

Singapore, Feb 14

India has evolved into an ambitious global player under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, supported by the world's largest population - young, technologically savvy and predominantly middle class - giving it a strong advantage for the future, a report said on Saturday.

According to an opinion piece in Singapore's leading multinational news channel Channel News Asia (CNA), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) identified India as the fastest-growing major economy in recent years, achieving real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 6.4 per cent. With its nominal GDP exceeding US$4 trillion, India is expected to surpass Japan and Germany by 2030 and could emerge as the world's largest economy in another decade.

To advance this objective, PM Modi introduced the Act East Policy in 2014 to establish India as a major influence in the Indo-Pacific, a vision requiring strong engagement with Southeast Asia.

"Chemistry between leaders matters a lot in bilateral relations. So it helps that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was friends with Anwar Ibrahim before the latter became the Malaysian Prime Minister. Modi had promised his 'dear friend' that he would go to Malaysia after missing the star-studded ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur in October 2025. And he made it his first foreign visit in 2026," political analyst James Chai stated in CNA.

"Anwar made sure Modi felt welcome by preparing a ceremonial welcome and send-off complete with guard of honour with the First Battalion from the Royal Malay Regiment, students waving Indian flags and cultural performances. It also helped that both leaders shared their love for the Tamil language and actor MG Ramachandran. At home, Anwar always talked of his love for Indian culture and literature, including how much the Sanskrit epics Mahabharata and Ramayana influenced him during his time in prison," he added.

According to the commentary, Malaysia is home to nearly 3 million Indians, making it the third-largest Indian overseas community. The robust people-to-people linkages through tourism, education and cultural exchanges contributed to bilateral trade reaching nearly US$18.6 billion in 2025.

"Malaysia certainly has value to offer. In recent years, India was the largest market for Malaysian palm oil exports, a crucial item that affects the cost of food. At the same time, India's recent semiconductor mission could benefit from Malaysia's partnership as it had a 50-year head start in backend manufacturing with the support of multinationals, the pioneering companies that established operations in the early 1970s (locally known as the 'Eight Samurai')," Chai mentioned

"That is why these were the standout items in the memorandums of understanding signed, besides reaffirming their comprehensive strategic partnership since 2024, that also covers defence, education, trade and culture," he wrote.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
While the economic numbers are impressive, I hope this growth translates to better jobs and lower prices for the common person. The focus on semiconductors with Malaysia is smart—we need to be leaders in tech manufacturing, not just services.
R
Rohit P
$4 trillion GDP! That's our Bharat rising. Our demographic dividend is our biggest strength. When the world looks east, they will see India. The Malaysia visit details are fascinating—personal relationships between leaders really do matter.
S
Sarah B
As someone who has lived in Singapore, it's interesting to see CNA publishing this. The analysis seems balanced. The people-to-people link with 3 million Indians in Malaysia is a huge soft power asset. Cultural diplomacy works.
V
Vikram M
Respectfully, the report is overly optimistic. Being the fastest-growing major economy is good, but our per capita income is still low. We must ensure this growth is inclusive and reaches farmers and small towns, not just metros. The foreign policy wins need domestic stability to be sustainable.
K
Kavya N
The mention of the Ramayana and Mahabharata influencing leaders abroad fills me with pride. Our culture is our global signature. Also, the palm oil trade detail is crucial—it affects everything from biscuits to shampoo prices here. Strong ties with Malaysia help stabilise that.

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

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50