The India Opportunity showcased at the IPEF Clean Economy Investor Forum
Over 60 participants from
across global investors and financial institutions
Over 15 Indian firms participated in person to attract global investors
On the sidelines of the inaugural Indo-Pacific
Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) Clean Economy Investor Forum, the
Department of Commerce and Invest India organised a meeting to showcase various
investment opportunities in India.
In his inaugural address Secretary, Department of
Commerce, Sunil Barthwal, stressed on how India's growth rate is nearly double
that of other emerging market economies. He remarked on how this strong growth
is also leading to a trend of 'reverse flipping', where Indian startups that
once moved abroad for capital access and tax benefits are now returning home.
He emphasised how the digital economy along with emerging technologies like AI
and rise of data centres were key to future Indian growth.
The meeting held at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore,
attracted over 60 participants, including global investors from the US,
Singapore, Japan, Australia, Korea, and other countries, as well as India’s
private sector and government officials. The event brought together investors
and financial institutions from IPEF Member countries like that of Temasek,
Global Infrastructure Partners, GuarantCo, Private Infrastructure Development
Group (PIDG), Goldman Sachs, I Squared Capital, Mizuho Bank Ltd, Advantage
Partners, Nomura, DBS Bank and Citi Bank. The Indian infrastructure
and climate tech companies showcased their solutions and engaged with
international investors to tap into global markets.
Indian High Commissioner to Singapore, H.E. Dr.
Shilpak Ambule, focused on the fundamentals that are driving Indian growth. He
said that the investment in physical and digital infrastructure will have
multiplier effects on the Indian economy, and that the legislative and
regulatory changes have created a pro-market field, providing conducive and
predictable policy environment. He stressed on how shifting global supply
chains and Indian efforts modernization of infrastructure will enable India to
participate in them.
This was followed by an India opportunity
presentation in which Invest India showcased the India’s through various
government flagship initiatives like a flourishing startup ecosystem, a sizable
pool of skilled and talented professionals across diverse industries, a push
for investments in infrastructure projects, policy reforms aimed at
streamlining regulations, enhancing transparency, and improving Ease of Doing
Business.
MD and CEO of Invest India, Nivruti Rai highlighted
that India is keen on collaborating with investors, clean economy firms, and
innovative startups to drive sustainable infrastructure, climate technology,
and renewable energy projects to meet Net Zero targets.
Speaking during the fireside chat titled the
Charting India Opportunity, Radhika Rao, Senior Economist and Executive
Director, mentioned that India strength is in 4C’s – Consistency &
Continuity in Policy and reforms; Increasing Capex through government,
household spending and private sector; Composition of trade shifting towards
manufacturing sectors; Increasing consumption over the next 5 years.
Sonal Varma, Managing Director, Nomura spoke in
detail about the Nomura India report. The report shows that highest number of
companies are looking at India than any other geography during their “Bottom’s
up” study, a survey of around 130 companies mapping their investments in
sectors and country. India is attracting investments in broad based sectors
ranging from semiconductor assembly to testing, automobiles to capital goods.
Kunal Agarwal, Managing Director, I Squared
highlighted that India is going through Infrastructure Supercycle, which is an
enabler for digital revolution and India is viewed as a secular investment
opportunity.
During the event, members of the industry expressed
highlighted that the inaugural forum was a significant step forward in
promoting economic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. They emphasized the
importance of industries working together to address the challenges they faced
and create new opportunities for growth. The forum also underscored the crucial
nature of a clean economy and supply chain resilience.
IPEF and Clean Economy Investor Forum
The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity
(IPEF) was launched in May 2022 and currently includes 14 partners – Australia,
Brunei Darussalam, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea,
Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, United States and
Vietnam. The IPEF, comprising four pillars of cooperation, namely Trade, Supply
Chain, Clean Economy and Fair Economy, provides a platform for countries in the
region to collaborate on advancing resilient, sustainable, and inclusive
economic growth and aims to contribute to cooperation, stability and prosperity
in the region.
The IPEF Clean Economy Investor Forum, one of the
initiatives under the IPEF, brought together the region’s top investors,
philanthropies, financial institutions, innovative companies, start-ups and
entrepreneurs to mobilise investments into sustainable infrastructure, climate
technology and renewable energy projects.