India's moment: Navigating a world torn by U.S.-China rivalry
If you've been watching the headlines, you've seen the trade war between the U.S. and China ramp up again: tariffs flying, supply chains splintering, and tech giants caught in the crossfire. It feels like déjà vu all over again, but something important has shifted this time. India, often the quiet bystander in global power struggles, suddenly finds itself thrust center stage with an opportunity that is historic and unprecedented.
Vice President JD Vance's recent four-day visit to India underscores that India's power isn't just about assembly lines or call centers anymore. India today stands ready to rewrite its legacy—from an outsourcing outpost to global innovation hub.
Apple's rapid pivot to India illustrates this dramatically: Just two years ago, less than 5% of the world's iPhones were made here. Today, it's nearly 14%, with plans to double again soon and a pledge to shift all U.S.-bound iPhone production to India by the end of next year.
The semiconductor landscape echoes this trend, with major moves such as Taiwan's PSMC partnering with Tata Electronics to build an $11 billion semiconductor fab in India. In a matter of months, global technology manufacturing has undergone a seismic shift that usually unfolds over years, if not decades, all catalyzed by heightened U.S.-China tensions.
Yet hardware is only half the story. The real excitement is India's burgeoning AI and software scene, with India's SaaS startups rapidly carving their niche globally—without any of the political blowback that comes from fast-growing Chinese platforms like DeepSeek and TikTok.
Big Tech has noticed, too. Giants like Nvidia, Microsoft, and Meta are significantly ramping up their investments in India to tackle massive, real-world challenges—health care, agriculture, financial inclusion—using AI solutions designed for India's billion-plus population. They're partnering closely with homegrown AI stars like Sarvam, which the Indian government has just selected to build India's sovereign LLM.
India is uniquely positioned to lead the charge in AI development beyond American borders. Indians are among the highest-adoption AI users, with access to some of the largest bastions of training data ever created—from a century of Bollywood to years of call-center customer interaction data across voice and emails. A new generation of AI-first innovators will deliver critical propulsion to drive down the cost of access and democratize the value of AI globally. It's simply not possible to profitably train models on American economics for nations where income is just a fraction of Western GDP per capita. While DeepSeek has captured the imagination, we will start to see several new flavors of AI tailored to sovereign needs at realistic cost, with Sarvam in India at the vanguard.
The financial community is recognizing this shift. Gross FDI inflows rose to $55.6 billion during April-November FY25, marking a 17.9% increase from $47.2 billion recorded in the same period of FY24.
But India's greatest strength might just be its diplomatic agility. Credit goes to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, whose masterful balancing act with the U.S., China, and Russia underscores India's unique geopolitical standing. His approach has allowed India to navigate complex diplomatic channels, transforming geopolitical tensions into tangible economic gains.
Yet, here in India, recognizing opportunity isn't enough—we must actively seize it. India's technology sector needs strategic direction now more than ever. First, we must embrace U.S.-style go-to-market muscle: Scaling globally demands not just great technology, but outstanding sales and marketing acumen. Second, we must double down on research-based engineering to build genuine, long-term innovation at scale, rather than settling for quick hacks or short-term solutions. Finally, we must foster a culture of bold, transformative thinking, encouraging our entrepreneurs and innovators to break new ground without being overshadowed by Silicon Valley's tech dominance.
Along the way, we'll have to deftly navigate the geopolitics of two mega-powers. It's a high-wire act, but India is uniquely suited to pull it off—bridging divides while preserving our strategic autonomy.
We've talked about India's potential for decades. This moment, catalyzed by circumstances beyond our control, is India's clarion call. Our destiny is within reach. It's time we answer—not with hesitation, but with the confidence and ambition this historic moment demands.
The opinions expressed in Fortune.com commentary pieces are solely the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of Fortune.
This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
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