India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world. Four of the world's major religions — Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism originated here.
Mystifying! There’s simply no other word that convincingly captures the enigma that is India. With its in-your-face diversity, from snow-dusted mountains to sun-washed beaches, tranquil temples to feisty festivals, lantern-lit villages to software-supremo cities, it’s hardly surprising that this country has been dubbed the world’s most multidimensional. Love it or loathe it, and most visitors see-saw between the two, India promises to jostle your entire being, and no matter where you go or what you do, it’s a place you’ll never forget.
Home to more than one billion people, the subcontinent bristles with an eclectic mélange of ethnic groups, which translates into an intoxicating cultural cocktail for the traveller. For those seeking spiritual sustenance, India has oodles of sacrosanct sites and stirring philosophical epics, while history buffs will encounter gems from the past almost everywhere – from grand vestiges of the British Raj serenely peering over swarming spice bazaars, to crumbling fortresses looming high above plunging ravines. Meanwhile, aficionados of the great outdoors can paddle in the shimmering waters of one of many balmy beaches, scout for big jungle cats on a blood-pumping wildlife safari, or simply inhale pine-scented air on a meditative forest walk. And then there’s the food! From squidgy South Indian idlis (fermented rice cakes) to zesty north Indian curries, foodies can look forward to savouring a seductive smorgasbord of specialities.
Once you touch down on sub continental soil, you’ll quickly discover that cricket – India’s sporting obsession – is one of the most spirited topics of conversation, along with the latest shenanigans in the razzle-dazzle world of Bollywood. However, it is politics – whether at the national, state or village level – that consistently dominates news headlines, with middle- and upper-class India also keenly keeping its finger on the pulse of international events. On the home front, economic matters feature high on the national political agenda. With one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, India has certainly made giant strides over the past decade. However, despite averaging an annual growth rate of around 9% in recent years, vast sections of the country’s billion- plus population have seen little benefit from the economic boom. Indeed, the government’s ongoing challenge is to spread both the burden and bounty of India’s fiscal prosperity. Not an easy task given that the gap between the haves and the have- nots is far from shrinking, and poverty is set to spiral upwards if India’s population rate continues to gallop beyond that of its economic growth.
Today, India is poised, ready and welcoming. The country is proactively looking for global partnerships and is at the forefront of future growth in plastics. Seen as the fastest growing wealth creator in the world, the new India is driven by its knowledge economy, the booming manufacturing sector and by the fact that more than 60% of its population is under 35 years in age.
India is the fourth largest economy in the world by volume, and growing at an unprecedented rate of 9% per annum. With a population base of 1.2 billion people, a work force of 467 million, and a fast growing, upwardly mobile, middle class of more than 350 million people; India’s consumer market will be the world’s fifth largest by 2025; making it a dream come true for the world’s manufacturing sector.
Propelled by liberalization policies that have boosted demand and encouraged trade, India has opened up itself to the world, and is increasingly seen as the most lucrative destination for business, and business partnerships. Add to this a highly skilled work force, a huge consumption base, and a global outlook; the lure of ‘India – the business destination’, becomes even stronger.
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