Global economists and policy experts on Sunday, 4 October 2026, described India as an increasingly attractive destination for international investment, citing the country's robust growth outlook, rapidly expanding infrastructure, and rising global credibility. The assessments came on the sidelines of the Kautilya Economic Conclave 2026 in New Delhi, where economists and policymakers from across the world gathered to address the most pressing challenges confronting the global economy.

What the Conclave Covered

The three-day conclave brought together researchers, economists, and senior policymakers to deliberate on a wide range of issues, including geopolitical tensions, trade disruptions, energy security, climate risks, and the shifting contours of the international economic order. Experts noted that the event has grown considerably in stature and reach since its inception.

Swedish economist Erik Berglof observed that the quality of engagement and the breadth of global participation at the conclave had improved markedly over the years, with this year's edition drawing delegates from a larger number of countries than before.

India's Growth Story in Focus

'India's growth prospects are strong and the country has achieved impressive economic momentum since the Covid-19 pandemic,' Berglof said. He added that in the current environment of heightened global uncertainty, discussions on strengthening economic resilience were particularly timely, as nations grapple with vulnerabilities across energy supplies, trade flows, and global supply chains.

Berglof, however, flagged a balancing act facing policymakers: while governments have moved to shield households and businesses from the fallout of global disruptions, sustained fiscal support risks straining public finances. Maintaining economic momentum while managing those fiscal pressures, he said, will be a defining challenge going forward.

Climate Risk and the Case for Cooperation

Juliano Assunção, executive director of the Brazil-based Climate Policy Initiative, identified climate change as one of the most consequential shared risks in the global economy today. 'Climate change is not an issue for any single country and addressing it will require international cooperation,' he said, adding that India and Brazil could serve a dual role — as countries directly affected by climate change and as active contributors to the global solution.

Asia-Pacific Dialogue and Geoeconomics

New Zealand economist Prof John Gibson described the Kautilya Economic Conclave as an increasingly important platform for dialogue between academics and decision-makers, with conversations extending well beyond India to broader developments across the Asia-Pacific region and the wider global economy.

Kazuto Suzuki, director of Japan's Institute of Geoeconomics, highlighted the deepening overlap between economics, geopolitics, and geoeconomics in shaping investment and business decisions globally. His remarks reflect a growing consensus among experts that purely economic frameworks are insufficient to understand modern capital flows and trade patterns.

As global investors look for stability amid widespread uncertainty, India's combination of demographic advantage, infrastructure momentum, and improving institutional credibility appears to be making a compelling case — one that experts at this year's conclave were willing to articulate on the record.