India a bright spot in a volatile world economy

The Indian economy is, arguably, among the few bright spots in a world racked by a stubborn and persistent slowdown. IMF chief Christine Lagarde says so and investors around the world seem to agree.

Just look at the hard numbers: foreign direct investment (FDI) flows into India soared 24.5 per cent to $44.9 billion in 2014-15 compared to $36 billion in the previous year. FDI into India through the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) route shot up 26 per cent to $31.9 billion in 2014-2015 from $25.3 billion in the previous period.

These funds are coming in from everywhere - Mauritius ($9.03 billion), Singapore ($6.74 billion), the Netherlands ($3.43 billion), Japan ($2.08 billion) and the US ($1.82 billion) - in keeping with India's status as the fastest growing large economy in the world. In fact, while most BRICS countries are pushing for growth through exports, India has a burgeoning internal market where demand from basic infrastructure to knowledge economy products are growing at a significant pace. It is, therefore, no surprise that investors find Indian shores a much safer bet especially in an increasingly volatile global economic environment.

The ′India Investment Journal′ (IIJ) was launched to track these investments into the country and highlight the available opportunities for foreign investors across India. The IIJ brings in the best content relating to inward investment across all India Inc. channels to ensure it adds maximum value to our readers - who are often also our exclusive content contributors. Keeping our readers in mind, the new look IIJ is structured around some of the key initiatives and investment opportunities therein, such as Digital India, Make In India, Act East or Smart Cities.

Each issue delves deep into one of those flagship initiatives. This time it's Clean India - especially waste management. Changing how India tackles its ever-growing millions of tons of waste, not only offers a $20 billion business opportunity to investors but also contributes to the Indian government's mission of “development for all”.

Last month, India Inc. deconstructed the broad vision of Waste Management into specific deliverables with its Waste Management Conclave. India's Minister for Environment, Prakash Javadekar, has since released a set of revised rules on waste management for public consultation to prepare for a system that befits India's growth ambitions. Our conclave, we can say with all humility, was ideally placed to feed into that.

We also kick-off a new series that will dissect the country's efforts towards ensuring ease of doing business through the prism of specific states, with West Bengal and its Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's attempt at wooing foreign investors to her state with a high-profile business delegation to the UK. The aim of this section will be to present the “In-Focus” state's vision and roadmap as described by a senior policymaker - almost like a guide to assess each state's ability to compete with others for FDI.

This pegs the new-look IIJ as a real tool for foreign investors to decipher the fine-print as well as a gateway to reach out to and, in turn, engage senior policy and decision makers at the central as well as state levels with their commitment and value proposition to India through a well regarded publication from the trusted India Inc. brand. I hope you enjoy this latest edition, which happens to coincide with India's 69th Independence Day celebrations.

Manoj Ladwa is the founder of India Inc. and chief executive of MLS Chase Group @manojladwa