Bengaluru: Expatriates living and working in Bengaluru envision the city transforming into one of the world's leading technology and business hubs over the next ten years, highlighting its cosmopolitan culture, economic strength, and thriving startup ecosystem.
Speaking at the Expat Business Council's (EBC) June networking event last weekend, they shared their perspectives on the city, identifying artificial intelligence, technology, and advanced manufacturing as key sectors expected to attract investments.
Chandra Arya, CEO of Acleo Strategies Inc and former MP of Canada, remarked, "Bengaluru is not just a city. The GDP is large and the population is substantial. It is equal to or better than many countries."
Arya noted that opportunities exist across nearly every tech sector, from chip design and PCB manufacturing to space technology. He also advised businesses looking to establish offices to consider areas beyond the central business district, as the city is rapidly expanding. "Expansion is occurring in places like Dobbaspet, Devanahalli, Hoskote, Chikkaballapur, Peenya, Nagasandra, and Whitefield," Arya added.
"Being an international city with numerous startups and cross-cultural exchange, we know Bengaluru will continue to grow. Hopefully, it develops in a positive and green direction. The city already has many trees, which I hope it can maintain," said EBC president Anna Kuhnt.
When asked about sectors likely to attract investment, Kuhnt stated that the rise of AI makes predictions difficult, but blue-collar jobs and skills like handicrafts will remain relevant as they cannot be easily replaced by AI. "I also think networking will become more important because humans will again become more central in the future," she added.
Franco Bellillo, COO of SUN Mobility, said Bengaluru will continue to attract investments in IT and AI sectors and remain a major tech hub, but infrastructure could become a limiting factor. "I believe the biggest obstacle to Bengaluru's growth is traffic and infrastructure. Moving around here is a hassle. As it is, I see people moving to other cities that invest more in infrastructure, like Hyderabad. Bengaluru will remain a hub with many well-established companies, but when these companies consider expansion, they may start to relocate due to costs and infrastructure."
Arya echoed similar concerns, stating that physical connectivity remains one of the city's biggest challenges. "Transport is an obvious challenge. The Metro is expanding, but last-mile connectivity from Metro to destinations is still a challenge, despite autorickshaws trying to fill the gap."
Impressed by Jugaad
Heike Wolter, co-author of the book 'What the West Should Learn From India', said, "What I liked most about India was discovering jugaad (workaround). It is so common, and people embrace difficult situations and find a way out."
