ET World Leaders Forum: Calling India ‘China+1' is 'intellectually lazy', says Kumar Mangalam Birla, envisions growth engine role for the country

Meanwhile, the Economic Times daily newspaper is available online now.

Key points

• ET World Leaders Forum: Calling India 'China+1' is 'intellectually lazy', notes Kumar Mangalam Birla, envisions expansion engine role for the country.
• Aditya Birla businessKumar Manglam BirlaBirla GroupWorld Economic Forumchinaindia economyAditya Birla GroupIPO activity in India.
• Power shift, a déjà vu: Air India could be new CEO's toughest flight yet.
• "I'm finding that conviction about India is perhaps the highest absolutely for a long time, " Birla remarked.
• Bigger or Better: BEL's biggest shareholder is additionally its biggest customer – and its rule-maker.

Aditya Birla Group Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla remarked describing India as a "China+1" destination is "intellectually lazy", arguing that the country should instead be viewed as a potential global expansion engine. Speaking at The Economic Times World Leaders Forum, Birla remarked India has its own strengths and track record and should be seen as "World+1" rather than as an alternative to China. Listen to this article in summarized format. Unlock AI Briefing and Premium Content. Subscribe Now Already a member? Sign In.

Birla remarked substantial industrial groups have been investing heavily, signalling that corporate investment activity is beginning to pick up. He remarked there is a need to distinguish between capital discipline and conviction concerning India. Firms assess investments based on factors such as returns, volatility, industry conditions and global developments, he stated, but this should not be mistaken for a lack of confidence in India. Live Events.

"I'm finding that conviction about India is perhaps the highest absolutely for a long time, " Birla remarked. ET World Leaders Forum: Broader media economics key to cricket's success, notes JioStar's Uday Shankar He additionally pointed to the solid IPO activity seen over the past two to three years. Nevertheless, he stated a significant portion of the capital raised has gone towards the secondary market, benefiting existing investors, rather than funding new investments. 'Foreign investors to return to India' Birla remarked domestic investors have a deeper understanding of India than foreign investors, giving the country an advantage as it becomes less dependent on overseas capital. He remarked relying more on domestic capital creates deeper liquidity and strengthens India's financial markets by building a broader base of institutional and retail investors. Foreign investors, meanwhile, have to consider factors such as valuations, currency movements and geopolitics, he remarked. Despite these considerations, Birla expects foreign investors to return to India in time. 'Too late for No. 1 spot in telecom biz' Birla remarked the group is expanding its 5G network and core capacity after a number of years of limited funds for capital expenditure. He remarked the next step is to raise bank funding for the expansion, adding that the process is progressing well. While he acknowledged that the group is too late to become the No. 1 or No. 2 player in telecom, he remarked it can build a credible and profitable No. 3 position. Birla additionally highlighted the group's ability to attract and retain top talent as an advantage in the business. Add Now!

Bigger or Better: BEL's biggest shareholder is additionally its biggest customer – and its rule-maker. Final part. Train station to rocket propellants, a Nagpur firm's INR21k-cr journey. Are patients paying the cost for India's PE-led healthcare boom? Notably, the Nifty doesn't predict India. It records it.

For now, ET World Leaders Forum: Calling India 'China+1' is ' intellectually lazy' , says Kumar remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.