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The India Opportunity: How Businesses Can Lead in the Global South Economy

by Dr. Gaurav Sarin - 24 January, 2026, 12:00 58 Views 0 Comment

The world economy is going through a long process of recalibration. Now, the Global South, which includes Asia, Africa, and Latin America, is indulging in the indulgence of growth, new concepts, and being elastic. Due to its magnitude, digital set-up, and geopolitical standing, India is at the epicentre of this transformation. It is both a prototype and a heart for industries that want to do business in the Global South.

India’s Strategic Place

India has three big advantages, namely – large population, a lot of digital skills, and links to the rest of the world. India has the largest number of people of working age in the world, with more than 1.4 billion. By 2030, it is expected to have the largest middle class, which will mean that there will be a lot of demand for cheap housing, healthcare, education, and energy. India has made more progress in digital technology than a lot of other rich countries. People can now get to government and financial services in a different way thanks to the India Stack. It has public digital infrastructure tools like Aadhaar (for digital ID), UPI (for payments in real time), and Digi Locker (for safe document storage). UPI handles about 10 billion transactions every month, making India the world leader in digital payments. The method has been applied to comparable projects in Brazil, Singapore, and the UAE. In terms of geopolitics, India is becoming more of a link between the wealthy countries and the Global South. It has a bearing on policies around the world when it yields a place in groups such as the G20, BRICS, and the International Solar Alliance.

India’s lessons for the Global South

India’s approaches can be applied as instances for other marketplaces that are expanding.

  • The Jan Dhan Yojana, Aadhaar, and UPI have caused millions of people to join the banking system. This has reduced the rate of transactions and made it easier to transmit funds quickly to people.
  • India’s title as the “pharmacy nation of the world” was made even clearer during COVID-19, when it revealed vaccines and medicines to multiple countries via the “Vaccine Maitri” project.
  • India is a fine example of how a good economy can develop without emitting a large carbon footprint. It is one of the massive projects on the globe to develop solar energy.
  • Open Network for Digital Commerce is running on a platform-centred model to construct an e-commerce platform for everyone to use. This will enable minor businesses and merchants to use the same approach to arithmetical tools as large businesses.

Opportunities for Business

 India is not only a large market for industries, but it’s also a respectable location for them to go out for reduced, scalable solutions that will drive in other sections of the Global South.

  • As communities in cities and semi-urban areas gain additional funds, they ought to invest in things that are both economical and of decent value.
  • India has assured to reduce its radiation to zero and invest funds into renewable energy. This initiates prospects for green hydrogen, solar, wind, electric cars, etc.
  • India has exhibited that telemedicine and electronic knowledge platforms can work in other emerging countries with analogous setup issues.
  • Multinational companies are no longer conditional in just one nation. The “Make in India” program and Production-Linked Incentives (PLIs) have assisted India in improving its manufacturing expertise, showcasing it as a natural hub.

Leading in the South of the World

Corporations that desire to do well in the Global South must go beyond easy commerce and value methods that are open to everyone and foster collaboration. A few of the elementary actions are listed below:

  • Functioning with regional environments proposes realising solutions that thrive in that zone by teaming up with schools, startups, and group networks.
  • When constructing objects, one needs to consider how vulnerable people are to price and how constrained the infrastructure is, while making sure the property remains decent.
  • Tapping India to attach with Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, where mechanisms are frequently identical to those in India.
  • Achieving persistent capital schemes that focus on encouraging long-term value rather than acquiring rapid money.

Getting through problems

To be prosperous, one must deal with tough rules, awful infrastructure, and the needs of separate clients. India’s capability shows that these problems can be resolved by establishing new rules and permitting the private sector to make adjustments. The digital public commodities model appeared due to issues with outdated banking and government systems. Subsequently, it has become an international practice.

 Final Thoughts

The market of the Global South is not a prospect; it is a present truth. India’s mass, innovation, and management made it the heart of this change. Businesses can gaze at India as an affiliate and a role model. They will not only be able to use this benefit of one of the world’s major development statements, but they will also have a significant impact on producing a better and more balanced outcome.

Dr. Gaurav Sarin
Author is an Associate Professor, Information Systems & Analytics Area, Chairperson – MBA (AI & DS)T A Pai Management Institute, Manipal
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