Rajan Bharti Mittal, Vice Chairman of Bharti Enterprises on Tuesday said that India’s global image, both economically and politically, is on the rise, and the country cannot be ignored.
“I’ve been coming here for many years, and I can tell you with every visit, India’s image globally, economically, and politically is on the rise,” Mittal said on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
“There is no doubt. Especially with this government, we have seen the kind of relationship they have developed, both economically and politically, and in a sense, that is helping India’s economic growth.”
India is the fastest-growing economy, and hence, “India cannot be ignored,” he said.
India’s manufacturing sector has received a significant boost, he added, particularly praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“I have to say, the Prime Minister has been very clear; we have to Make in India. And I think the Viksit Bharat growth that he has laid out for manufacturing, which has been lower, is now getting traction. What we are seeing is that manufacturing, EV (electric vehicles), and renewables are gaining momentum. We also see that FDI is still holding up. Last year, we received USD 46 billion,” he added.
“I’m sure more FDI is coming in many more sectors. As you know, infrastructure is key for our growth, and I think a lot of investment is going in, both private and public.”
Regarding expectations from the Union Budget for 2025-26, Mittal suggested that levies on telecom services be rationalized.
“On the telecom side, we definitely have an expectation that the levies are very high. If Digital India is to be the vehicle for so many things, I think that’s one ask from the industry in this budget — that levies must be rationalized,” he explained.
“Generally, I think consumption also has to grow, which means more money has to be in the hands of spenders,” he added.
Mittal also hopes for some tax rebates in the upcoming budget. “So, these are the two things that I would expect the budget to deliver,” he said.
Asked about Donald Trump’s presidency and its potential impact on India and Bharti Enterprises’ global operations, Mittal, without saying much, asserted, “We’ll have to see. Eventually, the proof of the pudding is in the eating.”
“We’ll have to wait and watch. We do expect some blips, but I think the India-U.S. relationship is very robust. Both countries will be, I would say, sensible nations, ensuring that we engage with each other in a level-based economic and political relationship.”