John Chambers predicts Indian economy will surpass China by 2100

In an exclusive interview with The Economic Times, John Chambers made a bold statement about the future of the Indian economy. He confidently stated that by the end of the century, India's economy will probably be 90 to 100% larger than China's. John T. Chambers is the Chairman Emeritus of Cisco, a US network gear maker. He was also the CEO and executive chairman of Cisco Systems. He is also the founder and CEO of JC2 Ventures.

John Chambers' optimistic outlook on India's economy stems from his belief in the country's immense potential for growth and innovation. Despite netizens questioning the validity of his statement due to the long timeframe, Chambers attributed India's economic prosperity to factors such as increasing trade partnerships, a thriving diaspora, and a focus on inclusive growth.

On US-India partnership

In the interview with ET,  the Chairman Emeritus of CISCO stressed the importance of the US-India partnership in shaping the global landscape for the next century. He emphasized that the relationship between the two countries will continue to strengthen, regardless of the outcome of the upcoming US presidential elections. According to Chambers, both nations are committed to enhancing their strategic partnership and driving economic growth through collaboration.

On PM Modi's third term

According to Chambers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's securing a third term in office signals a message of predictability and safety for investors in India. He praised Modi's initiatives in the past decade, which have laid the groundwork for sustained economic growth in the country. Chambers is confident that the upcoming years will be crucial for setting the framework of the century and positioning India as the top economy on a global scale. 

On innovation and growth

Chambers commended PM Modi's forward-thinking approach to data ownership and utilization in India. He acknowledged the importance of leveraging data in the AI era to drive innovation, accelerate startups, and address critical challenges like healthcare. Chambers also discussed the significance of speed, models, and data advantages in harnessing the full potential of India's vast database for societal progress.

On the future of the Indian economy

In his assessment of the Indian economy's trajectory, the former Chairman of CISCO predicted that India would outpace China by a significant margin by the end of the century.

He speculated India will become the second-largest economy in the world within the next 30-40 years, even surpassing the US Chambers claimed India will rapidly progress with disruptive growth in certain sectors such as technology, unicorns, and IPOs.

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