Webinar Series - Journey through contemporary India: dialogues with experts

A series of webinars organized with the support of Banca d’Italia, as part of the project :  "Osservatorio India – Sentieri di crescita economica e ruolo mondiale: catene del valore e servizi".

Each session features a conversation with a distinguished expert, offering insights into the evolution of India, one of the leading emerging powers of the 21st century.

Through exchanges with specialists, the series explores the challenges and opportunities shaping India’s current trajectory. From economic transformations to political developments and social change, these dialogues provide a comprehensive and up-to-date understanding of a nation in constant transformation.

Below is the list of webinars held so far:

First Webinar – October 2, 2024

WHY INDIA MATTERS

Conversation with Subhash Agrawal, Founder and Director of India Focus.

Video recording:   https://www.cespi.it/it/ricerche/osservatori/osservatorio-india/focus/why-india-matters

Second Webinar - December 10, 2024

INDIA: SLIDING DOORS

India appears to have finally embarked on a path of transformation, aiming to become an economic and political powerhouse within the next decade. The reforms initiated by the Modi government seek to overcome long-standing barriers to investment and to leverage a young, educated population.

However, an uncertain global environment and internal tensions make this journey far from straightforward. India stands at a crossroads: on one side lies a future of prosperity and influence; on the other, the risk of stagnation and marginalization.

The webinar, featuring Luca Silipo, Chief Economist at Finisterre Solutions, explored two plausible scenarios for India’s future and the key factors likely to determine its trajectory.

Video recording:  https://www.cespi.it/it/ricerche/osservatori/osservatorio-india/focus/india-sliding-doors

Third Webinar - February 25, 2025

MACROECONOMIC POLICY AND INDIA'S STRUCTURAL TRANSFORMATION 

India’s macroeconomic policies align with global trends, emphasizing fiscal discipline and low inflation. Yet, two main challenges persist: limited attention to external constraints - leaving the country vulnerable to capital flow reversals - and the modest role assigned to fiscal policy in promoting development and public investment in key sectors such as health, education, and industrial transformation.

The webinar featured Partha Sen, with Pasquale Lucio Scandizzo, in a discussion on these critical issues for India’s economic future.

Video recording: https://www.cespi.it/it/ricerche/osservatori/osservatorio-india/focus/macroeconomic-policy-and-indias-structural

Fourth Webinar - March 28, 2025

INDIA 2047 AND THE MIDDLE INCOME TRAP

India aims to achieve developed-country status by 2047, the centenary of its independence. To do so, it must quintuple its real per capita income - an ambitious goal that requires not only more capital, skills, and energy but above all greater economic efficiency. This calls for enhanced openness to trade, investment, technology, education, and equal opportunities.

The keynote speaker Indermit Gill, together with Mario Pezzini, examined these issues in depth.

Video recording: https://www.cespi.it/it/ricerche/osservatori/osservatorio-india/focus/india-2047-and-middle-income-trap

Fifth Webinar - May 14, 2025

TRADE AS A CATALYST FOR INDIA’S DEVELOPMENT

Growth prospects for India and South Asia are weakening amid a more uncertain global context. Limited openness to trade and investment offers some protection but also constrains opportunity. Greater global integration, better infrastructure, and more effective institutions will be crucial for sustained growth.

Franziska Lieselotte Ohnsorge and Partha Sen discussed these themes.

Video recording: https://www.cespi.it/it/ricerche/osservatori/osservatorio-india/focus/trade-catalyst-indias-development

Sixth Webinar - July 7, 2025

THE POTENTIAL ROLE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN INDIA’S ECONOMIC GROWTH

The discussion featured Prof. Siddhartha Mitra (Jadavpur University, Kolkata), who explored how artificial intelligence could support India’s transition to high-income status—evaluating both its productivity potential and the challenges related to job displacement and resource allocation.

The session also included contributions from Rajat Sodhi (Architect, CEPT University) and Ludovica De Santis (Project Manager, Disal Consulting).

Video recording: https://www.cespi.it/it/ricerche/osservatori/osservatorio-india/focus/potential-role-artificial-intelligence-indias-economic

Seventh Webinar - September 18, 2025

INDIA'S ROLE IN THE WORLD ORDER AND GLOBAL GOVERNANCE

Elisa Querini, Tiziano Marino, and Roberto Menotti analyzed India’s domestic socio-political dynamics, macroeconomic framework, and foreign policy-identifying key challenges and opportunities, and outlining possible future scenarios. The discussion addressed a central question: Which internal and external factors have shaped India’s role in an increasingly polarized and conflictual international landscape?

Video recording: https://www.cespi.it/it/ricerche/osservatori/osservatorio-india/focus/indias-role-world-order-and-global-governance

Eighth Webinar – 13 November 2025

New EU Strategic Agenda for India

The new Strategic Agenda of the European Union for India is set against a backdrop of profound global transformations. For this reason, it is intended as a multi-level cooperation tool, starting with the free trade agreement and collaboration on security, and extending to dialogue on issues of international concern, such as Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

Speaking on the topic were EU Ambassador Hervé Delphin, Indian Ambassador Saurabh Kumar, and Silvia Costantini, Head of the Italian South Asia Office.

Video of the meeting: https://www.cespi.it/it/ricerche/osservatori/osservatorio-india/focus/new-eu-strategic-agenda-india