On April 8, Karan Singh, the chairman of Bain & Company’s India operations, discussed the opportunity that tariffs present for India. Singh pointed out that companies are in search of other options in the wake of US President Donald Trump‘s tariff statements, which caused global economic disturbances.
Singh claimed that India may be gaining a lot in the manufacturing sector and probably strengthen its economy if it is able to negotiate trade agreements with the US. He laid emphasis on the world must solve inflation and a number of other probability enhancing elements, since these could offer India possibilities, especially given the differential tariffs imposed on big economies.
Singh added that if India successfully negotiates trade agreements with the United States, the country will benefit significantly in the industrial sector, thus empowering the Indian economy. This insight was shared during a panel discussion at the News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2025. He further highlighted the value of increasing foreign direct investment in India, highlighting the necessity for multinational corporations to set up their operations there in order to compete with China more effectively.
The chairman of EY India, Rajiv Memani, talked about the continued uncertainty in the world and how it has made business decisions more difficult. Global markets have become unpredictable as a result of President Trump’s commitment to relocate manufacturing to the US, ignoring pressure from other countries, Memani explained. This lack of predictability may cause supply chain interruptions and lead companies to change their strategies.
According to Rahul Jain, Managing Director and Senior Partner at BCG India, global economic uncertainity may slow down investment activity and cause “decision paralysis.” He said that India should strive for steady growth of 8–9% each year, with an emphasis on strengthening its manufacturing sector, despite these obstacles.
Jain also pointed out certain industries, like electronics and pharmaceuticals, where India has the potential for expansion. He said there is a lot of underlying potential in the electronics industry, especially in India. According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, Apple is looking forward to moving some of its manufacturing from China to India in order to save money on high tariffs. This might boost the Indian electronics sector. He also recommended that India should concentrate on industries that are less prone to relocate, such as textiles and renewable energy.
The current state of India’s startup ecosystem was also discussed. According to Memani, there are signs that innovation and AI firms are expanding and attracting capital. While Jain stressed that the nation’s emphasis on the energy and climate transition, as well as manufacturing, may be vital to drive economic growth, Singh said that India’s involvement in AI will be significant in the future.
