By Ritu Jha-
At the recently concluded Evolve 2024 conference, John Chambers, Chairman Emeritus of Cisco and CEO of JC2 Ventures, delivered an optimistic forecast for U.S.-India relations, predicting transformative collaboration that could shape global economic and technological landscapes. Chambers, a veteran advocate for bilateral ties, highlighted the immense potential for the two nations to forge a partnership never seen before, especially in artificial intelligence and economic innovation.
A “Special Relationship” Between Leaders
Chambers opened his address by underlining the strong personal rapport between President-elect Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which he believes sets the stage for unprecedented collaboration. “President-elect Donald Trump has a very special relationship with Prime Minister Modi,” Chambers stated. “I think India would be a great friend and partner for America.”
He pointed to Trump’s key appointments as evidence of his administration’s commitment to U.S.-India relations, including Marco Rubio as Secretary of State and Mike Waltz as National Security Advisor. Both figures have been strong proponents of closer ties with India, particularly in areas such as technology, security, and entrepreneurship.
India’s Transformation Under Modi
Drawing from his extensive experience in India, Chambers praised Prime Minister Modi for catalyzing the nation’s transition from a “slow follower” to a global innovation leader.
“When Prime Minister Modi came into office, he reset that narrative,” Chambers said. “His vision for digitization—spanning Digital India, startup India, and inclusion across 29 states—transformed the country.”
Chambers recalled his early work with Modi on India’s digitization initiatives and noted how these efforts turned skeptics into believers.
“When I said India would be the fastest-growing economy in the world, people doubted me. When I said Prime Minister Modi would be one of India’s most successful leaders, they disagreed. And yet, here we are—India is emerging as a global leader under his vision.”
As Chairperson of the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum, Chambers was instrumental in fostering economic and technological ties between the two nations. He credited Modi’s focus on technology as a cornerstone of India’s success, saying, “He built his strategy around digital manufacturing, innovation, and inclusivity in ways no one thought possible.”
Bold Predictions for 2024 and Beyond
Chambers shared two transformative predictions for the U.S.-India partnership in 2024:
AI Leadership
Chambers believes that the U.S. and India have a unique opportunity to dominate the global AI landscape by working together strategically. “If we do this right, we can create a lead so significant that we bring others along on our terms,” he stated. He emphasized AI as a game-changer for every industry—from healthcare and defense to manufacturing—and noted that 2024 could mark the beginning of rapid AI-driven advancements.
While acknowledging the benefits of AI, Chambers also warned of its disruptive potential. “AI will drive the economy over the next decade, but it’s going to destroy a lot of jobs,” he cautioned. Unlike previous technological revolutions, AI’s rapid pace might outstrip the ability of industries and governments to retrain workers. “We have to get ahead of this challenge with proactive strategies.”
Economic Ascension
According to Chambers, India is well on its way to becoming the world’s largest economy, fueled by innovation and strategic leadership. “There are multiple inflection points as a country or company grows, and I think this will be the year that we see that,” he said. He predicted that India’s GDP growth, technological advancements, and improved standard of living would outpace other nations in the coming years.
Chambers also outlined a long-term vision for India’s economic dominance. “If India and the U.S. execute their strategies well together, by the end of the century, you’ll see India probably 10% bigger in GDP than the U.S. and 40% bigger than China,” he stated.
AI and Data: The Next Frontiers
Chambers identified AI and data as the defining elements of future economic success. He emphasized that data would become a company’s most valuable resource, surpassing traditional assets. “Data might be more valuable than your whole company today because of the insights it provides,” he said. He urged companies in both the U.S. and India to safeguard their data and leverage it for sustained innovation.
He also noted that AI would fundamentally alter industries worldwide, predicting productivity gains of 7-10% annually for companies that adopt it effectively. However, Chambers warned that failure to adapt to these changes could leave companies and nations behind. “Either you disrupt, or you get disrupted,” he said. “We need to dream bigger and use technology to move forward.”
Advice for Entrepreneurs and Tech Leaders
For Indian tech companies, Chambers offered specific recommendations. He encouraged firms to embrace startup culture and incorporate cutting-edge technologies into their operations. “Indian multinationals should look to the U.S. startup ecosystem for inspiration,” he advised, noting that large American firms like JPMorgan and Bank of America have successfully integrated startups into their strategies.
Chambers highlighted the importance of employee training, citing the French postal service La Poste as an example of a traditional company that successfully reinvented itself through AI. He urged Indian firms to adopt similar approaches, investing in workforce education and aligning with the pace of technological change.
For U.S. companies, Chambers stressed the need to address employee anxieties about change. Reflecting on his tenure at Cisco, he said, “We retrained 7.2 million people through the Cisco Networking Academy. That took the mystery out of the Internet. We need to do the same with AI.”
A Call to Dream Big
Chambers concluded his speech with a rallying cry for both nations to embrace bold ambitions.
“We need to dream bigger about what India and the U.S. can achieve together,” he said. “Indian tech companies and startups, with the support of government leadership, can lead the world and change it.”
When asked how he would invest $100,000, Chambers underscored his faith in India’s future.
“If I had to bet on one country outside the U.S., it would be India. And if I had to bet on two, I’d bet on India twice.”
A Shared Vision for the Future
As the U.S. and India navigate this pivotal moment, Chambers’ vision offers a roadmap for harnessing their shared strengths in technology, entrepreneurship, and economic leadership. With a foundation of mutual respect and ambitious goals, the two nations have the potential to not only transform their own futures but also reshape the world.