India is one of the most promising emerging markets in the world. Having the world’s second largest population, it is already the 4th largest economy. Its GDP which crossed USD 1 trillion last year is growing at more than 9% p.a. This rate is expected to rise further as the government implements initiatives to reform agriculture which is growing at less than 3%. It’s the manufacturing and services sectors which have been growing at double digits year on year.

Having a large base and a high growth rate fuelled by internal demand, India is currently under served in terms of technologies, brands and product offerings. To top this, a very large part of the market in many industries is dominated by the unorganized sector. The opportunity to occupy the first mover advantage in these industries is ripe for companies having the right product-technology-commercial mix.

Consider this :

• In the last 6 years, India has added GDP equivalent to the national income of Netherlands
• At nearly 9% per annum, India’s annual addition in GDP is equivalent to the total GDP of Bangladesh
• The growth has been above 8% consecutively for the last 3 years
• India’s telecom industry is adding about 6 million mobile phone connections per month
• Over 700 malls covering more than 50 million sq ft are under development
• The off take of credit by consumers has doubled in 4 years from 2002 to 2006
• Corporate earnings of the top 30 companies comprising the benchmark index on Bombay Stock Exchange (Sensex) have more than doubled in the last 3 years
• The size of India’s middle class population is estimated at 250 million - the total population of Indonesia - the world’s 4th most populous nation
• Organised retail is expected to be more than $21.5 Bn by 2015
• Goldman Sachs’ BRICs report expects that by 2045, India’s GDP will be more than that of France, Germany, Italy, Japan and UK combined
• India ranks top in the AT Kearney Global Services Location index
  India attracted $12 billion FDI inflows in 2006 - a 170% more than the previous year
• Vodafone will pay $11.1 Bn for controlling stake in Hutch Essar JV, India’s 4th largest mobile telecom operator
• Renault/Nissan built a $900 mn car plant in Chennai to produce 500,000 cars per year
• Wal-Mart has entered into a JV with the Bharti group to invest $2.5 Bn in a retail venture

India presents a unique opportunity to be the growth driver for any business providing both scale and pace. This opportunity is even more attractive for companies from mature economies.