Mahindra Group Chairperson Anand Mahindra on Tuesday enthusiastically welcomed Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman's glowing endorsement of India at the World Economic Forum in Davos, describing it as "massive news" and an extraordinary validation of the nation's economic potential.
Unprecedented Validation at Global Forum
"Much of the dialogue at Davos has understandably focused on geopolitical turbulence. However, when the co-founder of one of the world's most dominant private equity firms declares that India provides their highest rate of return globally, that constitutes massive news, even by Davos standards," Mahindra emphasized in a detailed post on social media platform X.
Blackstone's India Business Excellence
Speaking exclusively to CNBC-TV18 on the sidelines of the WEF 2026 in Davos, Schwarzman highlighted the exceptional performance of Blackstone's Indian operations. "Our India business stands as our number one business worldwide in terms of rates of return for the investments we make," the Blackstone CEO revealed, underscoring the country's investment attractiveness.
Smart Money Speaks Volumes
Elaborating further, Anand Mahindra asserted that Schwarzman's statement represents far greater validation of India's growth trajectory than any claims made by domestic policymakers or business leaders. "Davos fundamentally serves as a convening of global capital; when the 'smart money' speaks this clearly and decisively, the impact becomes truly enormous," Mahindra added with conviction.
Accelerated India Investments Planned
Meanwhile, during his CNBC-TV18 interview, Schwarzman announced Blackstone's intention to accelerate company additions in India, signaling the firm's deepening conviction in the market's long-term prospects and growth potential.
Praise for Blackstone's Asia Leadership
In his comprehensive social media post, the Mahindra Group Chairman also extended compliments to Amit Dixit, Head of Blackstone Private Equity in Asia, for achieving this remarkable podium position for India operations. Mahindra shared an intriguing personal connection, revealing that Dixit previously worked at Mahindra Group before pursuing Harvard Business School.
"Here's an interesting sidebar: I feel particular pride because, many years ago, Amit spent a formative year at Mahindra before heading to Harvard Business School. He played a crucial role in launching Automartindia, which eventually evolved into Mahindra First Choice, now established as a premier player in the pre-owned vehicle industry," Mahindra recounted.
Corporate Leaders Unite in India Praise
Meanwhile, numerous corporate leaders have joined in praising India's progress at Davos 2026. KPMG International Global Chairman and CEO Bill Thomas noted that India's evolution over recent years reflects incredible momentum being built in both physical and digital infrastructure development.
"Even more significantly, each successive year has seen digital infrastructure positioning India exceptionally well for future growth," Thomas elaborated. EXL Chairman and CEO Rohit Kapoor added perspective on technological advancement, stating, "Every organization is essentially starting from scratch regarding implementation of AI models, integrating AI into workflows, and leveraging it for business transformation."
The collective endorsement from global business leaders at Davos 2026 highlights India's strengthening position as a preferred investment destination and emerging economic powerhouse on the world stage.
