India builds bridges for competitiveness in a world dominated by blocs

India’s moment: how the world’s largest democracy became a central player on the new globalisation chessboard

In an increasingly fragmented geopolitical landscape, India is no longer merely an emerging market; it has established itself as an international pivot capable of engaging with Washington and cooperating with Brussels, while preserving the strategic autonomy that underpins its credibility with the Global South. At a time when tariffs, sanctions and industrial incentives are once again shaping alliances, this ability to build bridges is a rare and valuable asset.

The recent acceleration of the partnership between India and the European Union, culminating in the conclusion of a free trade agreement described as the mother of all deals, clearly reflects this new centrality. In line with a broader European strategy to diversify markets and deepen bilateral relationships, also evident in partnerships with other major economic blocs, this agreement strengthens the resilience of European supply chains and expands its external reach. For India, it represents market access, investment attraction and the consolidation of its transition into a truly global, large scale economy. From a transatlantic perspective, this dynamic introduces a third balancing axis: a Europe more closely aligned with India becomes more resilient and better equipped to navigate economic and geopolitical uncertainty.

Cooperation between the EU and India in technology, connectivity and security points to a convergence among democracies seeking to reconcile competitiveness with rules and predictability, opening a dimension that goes far beyond trade. For companies operating across the United States and Europe, this triangulation offers a strategic space to expand markets, reduce critical dependencies and accelerate innovation, without being constrained by rigid bloc dynamics.

For Capgemini, India occupies a central role in this equation, positioning itself both as a global hub capable of supporting end to end digital transformations for clients in Europe, North America and Asia, and as an advanced laboratory for the technologies that will shape the next decade. The race to industrialise artificial intelligence solutions, marking the shift from pilot projects to large scale implementation, with governance, security and process integration, demands depth of expertise and delivery capability. These are two areas in which India stands out globally. This explains the relevance of models such as Global Capability Centers, which accelerate innovation, modernise platforms and strengthen cybersecurity, as well as technology alliances that bring the new wave of enterprise AI into the realm of measurable value.

In Portugal, where digital transformation remains a competitive priority, this bridge has tangible implications. By combining client proximity and local sector expertise with global scale and specialisation, we can shorten delivery cycles and raise the ambition of programmes, from cloud to engineering, from data to customer experience.

Capgemini is today a multinational with hundreds of thousands of professionals and a presence in more than fifty countries. India accounts for a decisive share of this capacity, while in Portugal we continue to strengthen hubs and partnerships that enable us to serve the market and export talent and expertise. In an uncertain world, those who build bridges gain options and India is now one of the most consequential bridges for the next phase of globalisation, an invitation to act, with pragmatism and without delay.