This year?s India Economic Summit is very important. The world is changing and while for some it has never been as good, for others, there is a real crisis out there. So what we need to know is: what is the leadership going to be from India?
India is a powerhouse. While India has many challenges on the home front, diversity and human talent, especially the youngest population on the planet, is one of its unique strengths. I view India as a high talent country, which it must leverage.
Diversity also means it is impossible to do everything from the Centre. You need to have very strong states that have a growth agenda across the rural, semi-urban and urban landscape. We need not only a growth vision, but a pragmatic growth programme that has the ability to deliver for its citizens while being one, strong country. For the world, it is enormously important to see that there is coherence between what individual states are doing and what India as a country is presenting to the world.
India has demonstrated that growth can be sustainable and green. But it must leverage the development of the digital economy for its growth to really be inclusive. I believe both can be done. You can unleash rural areas and create opportunities for citizens across India through e-health, e-education, and e-banking. We have seen excellent initiatives such as the UID project, innovative business models on mobile telephony in 3G and 4G, which have been an inspiration for many across the world. India needs to continue connecting the unconnected. The recent approval for a rural fibre optic broadband network to be funded by the USO Fund is a step in the right direction. It needs to continue bringing urban and rural areas together. But it also must bring these new models beyond the national agenda.
India today is a world player. It is a member of the G20. It is not enough that it just puts growth on its national agenda. It can no longer just look inward. Protectionism never works. The vision of India as a transparent, open country is far more attractive to the world than protectionism can ever offer. Given India?s rich democratic traditions and its intellectual horsepower, it could be a beacon of transparency, openness and frugal innovation to the world. Now is the time for India to actively think about the leadership role it wants to play on the global stage.
While there are massive home issues that really need a solution, India needs to combine these two realities and draw strength from them: India needs to play a global leadership role expected of it while linking global values, behaviours and ideas to the home front.
Today, there is a need for new ideas and new models. India can bring these to the world.
The world is watching very closely how India will rise. And I believe India must absolutely seize this unique opportunity.
The writer is CEO, Alcatel-Lucent, and member of the World Economic Forum?s Foundation Board and co-chair of the India Economic Summit 2011 in Mumbai on Nov 12-14
