The ET CEO Roundtable 2025 is underway as India’s top corporate leaders gather to define the India Way strategy at a time when global economic conditions remain uncertain. The discussion is focused on growth priorities, capital allocation discipline and how Indian companies can strengthen their competitive edge in international markets.
This year’s roundtable takes place against a backdrop of slowing global demand, supply chain fragmentation and rising geopolitical tensions. Indian CEOs are using the platform to position domestic industry for a phase of long term, innovation driven expansion.
Leadership focus sharpens around India Way strategic themes
The India Way strategy being shaped at the roundtable focuses on three core pillars. Secondary keywords such as global competitiveness and operational resilience help contextualise these priorities. The first pillar is accelerating domestic capacity in advanced manufacturing and energy transition technologies. CEOs emphasised the need for sustained investment in automation, clean energy adoption and research capabilities to ensure India becomes a preferred global production base.
The second pillar is digital transformation at enterprise scale. Executives highlighted the opportunity to leverage artificial intelligence, predictive analytics and cloud driven supply chain systems to increase productivity. The roundtable noted that Indian companies must move faster in adopting digital tools and must redesign operations with efficiency and integration as core objectives.
The third pillar centers around financial prudence and market expansion. Leaders stressed that balancing leverage, improving return metrics and scaling exports are critical for navigating an environment where global liquidity cycles remain volatile.
Navigating global uncertainty with more resilient business models
The ET CEO Roundtable 2025 has placed significant attention on how global volatility should shape Indian business strategy. Secondary keywords like supply chain fragmentation and geopolitical risk reflect this backdrop. CEOs are preparing for a world where trade flows become more regional, inventory strategies shift from just in time to just in case and commodity price swings create cost unpredictability.
Indian companies are exploring ways to localise critical inputs while developing multi region sourcing networks. The objective is to maintain cost competitiveness while reducing exposure to disruptions. Leaders from manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, energy and automotive sectors shared examples of how their organisations are redesigning procurement and logistics frameworks to improve resilience.
At the same time, executives acknowledged that India benefits from structural advantages such as a large consumption base, growing digital infrastructure and improving logistics networks. These factors provide domestic companies with buffers against global stress, enabling them to invest confidently in long duration projects.
Innovation, talent and sustainability rise to the forefront
Across the discussions, CEOs repeatedly cited innovation, skilled talent and sustainability as foundations for the India Way roadmap. Secondary keywords such as workforce development and climate transition outline these themes. Leaders agreed that building innovation ecosystems around engineering talent, research labs and startup partnerships will be essential for competing globally.
Talent development emerged as a priority, with CEOs highlighting the need for specialised programs in AI, robotics, semiconductors and green technologies. They emphasised that future competitiveness depends on deep technical skills rather than just scale. Several companies outlined plans to expand internal learning platforms and industry academies.
Sustainability also occupied a central position in the discussions. Executives noted that global investors and customers increasingly evaluate companies on their decarbonisation and circular economy initiatives. Indian firms are integrating energy efficiency, green materials and waste reduction into core operations, recognising that sustainability has shifted from compliance to competitive strategy.
Capital allocation and expansion strategies take center stage
With global growth softening, CEOs are prioritising disciplined capital allocation. Secondary keywords like investment cycles and market diversification frame this shift. Leaders noted that capital must be directed toward technology upgrades, capacity expansion in high growth segments and selective international forays where Indian companies can leverage cost advantages.
The India Way strategy includes a sharper focus on exports, especially in electronics, pharmaceuticals, engineering services and clean energy components. CEOs believe that India can meaningfully expand its presence in global supply chains if investments are backed by predictable policy, world class infrastructure and streamlined regulatory processes.
Several leaders also pointed to the rising importance of partnerships. As industries become more complex, collaborations between large enterprises, startups and research institutions will shape the next generation of competitive capabilities.
Takeaways
The ET CEO Roundtable 2025 focuses on shaping a unified India Way strategy.
CEOs are prioritising manufacturing scale, digital transformation and financial discipline.
Innovation, talent development and sustainability are emerging as long term competitiveness drivers.
Companies aim to expand exports and build more resilient supply chains amid global uncertainty.
FAQs
What is the India Way strategy discussed at the roundtable?
It is a leadership framework focused on manufacturing strength, digital transformation, sustainability and disciplined growth that positions India to compete more effectively in global markets.
Why is resilience a major theme for CEOs this year?
Global supply chain disruptions, geopolitical tensions and volatile commodity markets have underscored the need for companies to build more adaptable and diversified operating models.
How does digital transformation fit into the India Way roadmap?
Digital tools such as AI, cloud systems and predictive analytics are central to improving productivity, lowering costs and enabling faster decision making across sectors.
What expansion priorities are CEOs identifying for the next decade?
They aim to scale exports, deepen technology investments, build strong talent pipelines and explore international markets where Indian companies have competitive cost or capability advantages.
