A Few Thoughts
We are in the middle of the 2024 parliamentary elections. What the resilient Indian economy needs is a stable government with a vision to make India into a seven trillion dollar economy by 2030, and to give ‘a better quality of life’ to its large masses. By June, we will know who will be in the saddle to lead the country for the next five years.
The huge population of India, what seemed like a curse few decades back, is now being portrayed as a ‘demographic dividend’ with 60% of India’s population below 35 years of age. The growth in GDP and, in turn, increase in per capita income is surely helping millions of Indians to come out of poverty month after month, thereby increasing domestic demand for products and services. PM Modi’s push to increase manufacturing activity through PLI and other schemes is slowly but surely helping create lakhs of blue collar jobs, although Vietnam seems to have over taken India in benefitting from the China Plus One strategy of MNCs.
While the world is chugging along with all the strife in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, one never knows when and what will upset the delicate balance that is making many countries function as if ‘nothing is happening around them’, and everything is ‘bold and beautiful’! Terrorism in di erent forms is the greatest threat to development and existence in the world. Israel’s response to the Palestinian terrorist activities is too severe and tough for us Indians to understand, as we are used to the soft pedalling nature of our governments in the past. It is very important for the ongoing conflicts to end for peace and co-existence.
The Indian economy is generally firing on all cylinders, and I wish it continues to do so, thereby helping achieve the aspirations of millions of Indians. With a higher educated younger population from rural areas seeking new pastures, urbanisation is increasing, as witnessed earlier in China and many other countries. Most countries with high industrialisation have upwards of 65-70% of its population in urban centres, as compared to 35-38% of Indians in urban centres due to India's economy still being dependent on agriculture in a big way. With greater urbanisation, one can imagine the increase in demand for housing and necessities like clean air, food, water, entertainment and good infrastructure.
Happy to record the good performance of Brigade in the financial year closing March 2024. We made fresh sales exceeding 7.50 million square feet, earned lease rental income of upwards INR 900 crores, and all eight operating star hotels posting best results.
The momentum for growth will continue as long as the Indian economy continues to perform well. There is no doubt on this aspect. We are still a country with a low per capita income below USD 3000, and a low global ranking of 125 out of 200 countries. One needs to look towards China to know what happens to the country’s economy and prosperity of its people when the per capita increases to $5,000 or $7,000 or more.
The Global Business Forum 2024 of WTC Association New York, hosted by our World Trade Center Bengaluru in March was a resounding success with the participation of more than 200 international delegates.
Jt. Managing Director, Nirupa Shankar qualifying as an ‘Ironman’ at the Copenhagen event is a phenomenal achievement due to the sheer toughness and endurance required.
As part of our CSR initiatives, Brigade is happy to have undertaken the much required renovation of the well-known state government owned Venkatappa Art Gallery. It should reopen by the end of the year. The 108-bed hospital, a philanthropic initiative in association with St. John's Medical College Hospital is in its final stage of completion at Brigade Meadows, Bengaluru South.
In closing, we should all hope and pray that our country and our state get a good monsoon to bring smiles to both rural and urban population alike, including the parched throats of Bangaloreans.
JAI HIND.