Aryaman Vikram Birla, Director of Aditya Birla Management Corporation, expressed optimism about the conglomerate's positioning and India’s economic growth during his debut at the World Economic Forum in Davos. In a conversation with India Today News Director Rahul Kanwal, Birla emphasized that the group's businesses are "very well placed" and shared his enthusiasm for the opportunities ahead.
Birla highlighted recent investments in consumer-facing sectors as a testament to the group's confidence in India's burgeoning consumerism. He noted significant strides in two key areas in 2024: jewellery retail and paints. "We invested very deeply in two new consumer businesses. One was obviously jewelry retail, and the second one was at the intersection of consumer and manufacturing, which is paints. We generally feel like there's going to be long-term buoyancy in consumerism in India," he stated, underscoring the group's strategic pivot toward consumer-centric ventures.
When asked about competition among India's leading business tycoons, such as the Ambanis, Adanis, and Goenkas, Birla downplayed the notion of rivalry. "Some competition is really good," he remarked, adding that the focus remains on sustaining and growing the Aditya Birla Group’s legacy. "There's a long legacy that we've come up with, and I think there's an appreciation and understanding that we need to work very hard to not only grow that legacy but even just sustain it. We're competing in the market, but personally, there's no competition between us. They're all great friends of mine, and I look up to all of them for what they do."
Birla also spoke about India’s economic trajectory and the vision of Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047, as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Reflecting on the country’s progress over the last decade, he expressed confidence in India’s growth potential. "The pie is getting bigger. Our economy is growing, and there’s an opportunity for everyone to be a part of it," he said. Birla also conveyed his belief in setting ambitious goals: "You should shoot for the moon, and if you don’t reach there, you’d at least land on the stars."
His comments reflect a blend of optimism and pragmatism as the Aditya Birla Group positions itself to harness opportunities in India’s rapidly evolving economic landscape while reinforcing its legacy in competitive markets.
