India emerges as preferred investment destination despite global slowdown: PwC CEO Survey

India continues to stand out as a favoured destination for global investment even as the world economy grapples with uncertainty, according to PwC’s 29th Annual Global CEO Survey: India perspective. The survey shows that India has climbed from fifth position last year to emerge as one of the top preferred territories for planned investments by global chief executives, underscoring sustained confidence in the country’s growth outlook. 

The survey, which gathered responses from 4,454 CEOs worldwide, including nearly 50 from India, indicates that optimism around India remains strong despite a subdued global environment. PwC said the findings reflect confidence in India’s robust economic fundamentals, large and expanding consumer base, and policy stability, which continue to attract global capital. 

77% of India CEOs expect stronger domestic growth 

A significant 77% of India CEOs expect stronger domestic economic growth, well above the global average of 55%, highlighting India’s relative resilience. Confidence in near-term business performance is also markedly higher, with 57% of India CEOs expressing strong confidence in revenue growth for their companies, almost double the level reported by global peers. 

Sanjeev Krishan, Chairperson, PwC in India, said India’s rising attractiveness as an investment destination reflects deep trust in its long-term growth prospects. However, he cautioned that evolving cyber and technology risks demand decisive leadership. “CEOs who can balance innovation with resilience—driving strategic growth while safeguarding enterprise and stakeholder trust—will shape the future trajectory of business and the economy,” Krishan said. 

Cybersecurity has emerged as a top concern, with leaders acknowledging the growing frequency and sophistication of cyber threats and their potential to disrupt operations. Nearly 48% of India CEOs plan to significantly strengthen enterprise-wide cybersecurity measures, broadly in line with the global figure of 47%. 

Technology disruption, particularly around artificial intelligence (AI), is another major strategic challenge. As many as 66% of India CEOs said they are concerned about keeping pace with technology and AI, compared with 42% globally. While several companies are experimenting with AI across business functions, scaling these technologies across products, services and customer experiences remains a key priority. CEOs emphasised that technology investments must be supported by strong governance, talent development and clear AI strategies to deliver sustained performance gains. 

Growing momentum in innovation-led diversification 

The survey also points to growing momentum in innovation-led diversification among Indian companies. About 57% of India CEOs said their organisations have entered at least one new sector in the past five years, up sharply from 39% last year and significantly higher than the global average of 42%. Technology remains the most attractive sector for diversification, followed by industrial manufacturing and aerospace and defence. 

Globally, companies entering new sectors generate an average of 20% of their revenue from these ventures. In India, half of the CEOs believe their speed to market for launching new products and services is faster than peers, although 36% still see room for improvement. Co-innovation has been identified as a critical growth accelerator, yet 43% of India CEOs said they have not collaborated with external partners, potentially limiting access to new capabilities and markets. 

AI continues to be viewed as a strategic enabler by Indian business leaders. While adoption is still cautious, the benefits are becoming visible. Around 37% of India CEOs said they are using AI in demand generation to a moderate or large extent, while 36% reported similar use in products, services and customer experiences. Among companies that have deployed AI at scale, 32% reported revenue growth and 27% reported cost reductions.