Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 13 emphasized India’s role as a dependable partner amid a backdrop of growing global uncertainty, highlighting challenges to international supply chains and technology networks. Speaking at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in New Delhi, Modi warned that global trade and technological linkages once fostering cooperation are increasingly being exploited as tools of coercion.
Modi pointed to “choke points” in global commerce arising from ongoing conflicts, tariffs, and intensified state control over critical minerals and other essential inputs by major powers. He also noted the complicating effects of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. “Things that connected the world at one time are today being weaponised,” Modi said, stressing that in this environment, India offers “the assurance of reliability and stability.”
The prime minister promoted India as one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies, presenting numerous opportunities for investors. His remarks came shortly after the International Monetary Fund raised India’s economic growth forecast for the fiscal year 2027 to 7%, up from 6.4% projected earlier in July. The IMF cited strong domestic demand and robust activity in the services sector as key drivers, despite inflationary pressures linked to rising oil prices and a weakening rupee.
Modi delivered his address to a gathering of investors, corporate leaders, and government officials while New Delhi was experiencing widespread protests. The unrest, led primarily by students, stems from opposition to a contentious revision of India’s voter rolls. On October 12, opposition figures filed a petition seeking intervention by the Supreme Court. Modi did not directly mention the protests during his speech; instead, he underscored India’s democratic credentials, referring to the country as the “mother of democracy” with a vibrant and diverse media landscape featuring thousands of newspapers and television channels.
“In our country, people openly debate different issues, and citizens discuss diverse viewpoints,” Modi said, highlighting India’s linguistic and cultural plurality as well as its free press.
The forum took place amid a complex geopolitical environment marked by global supply chain disruptions and rising inflationary concerns. Modi’s appeal framed India not only as a stable economic destination but also as a nation offering strategic reliability in an era marked by increasing economic nationalism and geopolitical rivalry.