In The Spotlight

India Matters

India is the world’s most-populous country, one of the fastest-growing major economies and home to a diverse universe of companies. The country’s stronger-for-longer growth story is of global importance and could create new investment opportunities. We see ways to capitalize.
India at a Glance
1.4
BillionPopulation
6.3%
GDP growth forecast*in 2025
5.5k
Listed Companies**
Many people don’t realise the low volatility of corporate earnings in India. Its earnings have only declined in two of the last 30 years
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Hiren Dasani
Co-Head, Emerging Markets Equity
Megatrends Powering India’s Future

Megatrends and cross-sector reforms continue to attract international capital to India. A growing number of domestic retail investors may add depth to the country’s capital markets. Multiple themes are driving growth. Over 100,000 startup companies have also emerged since 2016, creating a broad and diverse investment opportunity set.

We believe three megatrends stand out: India’s digitization advancement, the country’s rise as a global manufacturing hub, and its growing cohort of affluent consumers. 

Three Key Megatrends

Digital India

India has embraced innovation. There has been a rapid increase in internet access, fintech, e-commerce, education, and healthcare technology in recent years. We expect this to continue. India has over 900 million internet users and about half a billion smartphone users.1  Its digital payments industry is booming, and digital transactions as a percentage of India’s economy is now more than 75%.2 As experienced, locally based investors, we see compelling long-term investment opportunities emerging across e-commerce, fintech and IT services.

Make in India

Flagship initiatives such as “Make in India” and production-linked incentive schemes are attracting investment, positioning the country as a global manufacturing hub. “Make in India” policies have driven domestic production, though ease of doing business still varies across states. Considerable progress has already made in electronics, for instance, where there is an ambitious target to grow the sector into a $500 billion industry by 2030 focusing on manufacturing production, including semiconductors. Expected areas of growth include consumer spending and infrastructure, with a need for significant investments to sustain development.

Affluent India

India's population overtook China in 2023 to become the largest globally, and the country also has one of the youngest demographics in the world with a median age of 28 years.3 India’s middle-class population, the largest in the world, is expected to account for 80% of the country’s population and 75% of consumer spending by 2030. Estimates suggests an “Affluent India” cohort—those with a per capita income of over US$10,000—will grow to ~100 million consumers by 2027.4 We see opportunities emerging for companies that can cater to premium spending trends across categories, from food and fashion to technology and transportation. 

WHY GOLDMAN SACHS INDIA EQUITY PORTFOLIO
We invest in the leaders of tomorrow
>45% of portfolio invested in mid- and small-caps and off benchmark companies. These include up-and-coming industry leaders in high-growth, innovative sectors.
We invest in the leaders of tomorrow
Experienced, Locally-Based Team
9
Investors Dedicated to India Equity Portfolio
19+
YearsAverage Industry Experience
1k +
Company MeetingsA Year

Source: Goldman Sachs Asset Management as of November 30, 2024

* Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research. As of November 18, 2024. 6.3 year-on-year real GDP growth in 2025.
** Includes listed companies on the Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange

 
1 Source: The Times of India https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/india-now-has-936-16-million-internet-subscribers-trai/articleshow/109537789.cms
Reserve Bank of India, National Payments of India, December 2023
Worlddata, census.gov. As of February 2024
Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research. As of January 12, 2024.

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