MUMBAI, August 7, 2025 — India’s economic journey demands more than piecemeal tweaks, according to business icon Anand Mahindra. Amid rising global trade tensions—particularly the US imposing a steep 50 percent tariff on Indian exports—Mahindra sees a golden opportunity for India to transform and shine. Rather than reacting, he wants India to seize the moment and reimagine its economic systems to attract global investment.The Economic Times+1Hindustan Times
Mahindra draws a compelling parallel to India’s historic 1991 foreign-exchange crisis, which launched sweeping liberalisation. He asks: Could today’s global upheaval—the “manthan” of tariff wars—yield a modern-day “amrit” for India?The Economic TimesHindustan Times
A Truly Functional Single-Window Clearance is Vital
At the heart of Mahindra’s proposal is a redesign of the country’s regulatory framework. He argues that India must move beyond “incremental reform” and establish a truly effective single-window clearance system for all investment proposals.Hindustan TimesThe New Indian Express
Acknowledging that many investment-related regulations remain under state control, Mahindra suggests starting with a coalition of “willing states” ready to align with a central, national platform. This coalition, he believes, can demonstrate the three pillars investors crave: speed, simplicity, and predictability. When these elements are in place, India could emerge as a magnet for global capital seeking reliable partners.Hindustan TimesBig News NetworkThe New Indian Express
Tourism: India’s Largely Untapped Foreign-Exchange Asset
Mahindra’s second major pillar revolves around tourism, an area he views as drastically underutilized. He calls on the government to dramatically accelerate visa processing, improve facilitation for tourists, and create dedicated tourism corridors around popular destinations. These corridors would uphold high standards of security, sanitation, and hygiene, serving both as economic engines and models that regions across India can emulate.Hindustan TimesBig News Network
A Broader Economic Action Plan
Beyond investment and tourism, Mahindra lays out further steps to reinforce India’s economic resilience:
- Ensure liquidity and strong support for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
- Accelerate infrastructure investments, including power, transport, and connectivity.
- Strengthen manufacturing through broader, more inclusive Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes.
- Rationalise import duties, especially on critical manufacturing inputs, to boost India’s global competitiveness.Big News NetworkThe New Indian ExpressMoneycontrol
Learning From Global Reactions
Mahindra points out that trade shocks have spurred positive unintended consequences elsewhere—such as Europe rethinking its fiscal restraints and Canada dismantling internal trade barriers—leading to stronger economic systems. He suggests India can craft its own set of “intentional unintended consequences” to drive transformative, forward-looking reform.The New Indian ExpressBig News NetworkIndia Tribune – Chicago –
From Challenge to Opportunity
He closes with a defiant and optimistic tone: while nations naturally prioritize their own interests, India too should harness this moment of pressure to reform rather than react. His message is clear: don’t just endure change—lead it. If the world is serving tariffs, perhaps India should serve innovation and systemic reform in return.
