Looking Beyond Traditional Trade Markets
Against the backdrop of global trade disruptions, rapid technological change and shifting geopolitical equations, the summit focused on three broad pillars: global market diversification, the role of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), and the critical importance of MSMEs as the backbone of economic growth.
A key global perspective was offered by Hambyrajen Narsinghen, Junior Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Government of Mauritius. Referring to the ongoing trade war and growing protectionism led by the United States, Narsinghen stressed that India must diversify its trade focus and look more seriously towards Africa. While Mauritius is a small island nation, he noted that its strategic location in the Indian Ocean makes it a natural bridge between India and the African continent. It can serve as a gateway for Indian companies seeking long-term and lower-risk access to African markets.
Africa, with a population of nearly 1.5 billion people, remains one of the youngest and fastest-growing regions in the world. However, Narasinghen cautioned that entering African markets directly can expose businesses to political, regulatory and financial risks. Structuring investments through Mauritius allows companies to mitigate these risks while benefiting from strong legal protections.
He further pointed out that Mauritius has a wide network of Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTAA) and investment protection treaties. In addition, goods processed through Mauritius can enter several African markets duty-free and quota-free under existing trade agreements, significantly improving profit margins.
Urging South Indian businesses to act swiftly, Narsinghen warned that China is moving aggressively into Africa. He called on Indian companies to use Mauritius as a secure base to expand into sectors such as manufacturing, IT, AI and healthcare across the continent.
AI as an Enabler of Growth
Sudha Ramen, IFS, Member Secretary, State Planning Commission, Government of Tamil Nadu, described how rather than replacing jobs, AI is reshaping them, creating an urgent need for continuous upskilling and reskilling. Tamil Nadu is proactively positioning itself for this transition. She highlighted quantum computing and quantum technologies as future growth engines for the state. The State Planning Commission has already constituted a working group to formulate a quantum strategy, signalling that Tamil Nadu’s technology ambitions go well beyond short-term gains.
Ben John, Vice President, Microsoft AI, USA, stressed that AI is not a substitute for human intelligence but an augmentation, pointing out the vast energy and resource gap between machine training and human cognition. He also highlighted that AI remains underutilised in critical sectors such as scientific research, drug discovery, agriculture and healthcare. In pharmaceuticals alone, AI has the potential to dramatically reduce development costs and timelines.
Subbu Palaniappan, Global Head of Growth, Amazon Prime, USA, added that the future belongs to domain experts who combine subject knowledge with AI fluency. Automation will shift humans into higher-value roles, even as repetitive tasks are increasingly handled by machines.
The panel also addressed the mismatch between traditional education systems and the needs of an AI-driven economy. This can be done by enhancing collaboration between industry and academia, formulating hands-on learning models and developing critical thinking and judgment among students. Speakers also highlighted AI’s growing role across sectors. From AI-enabled farming platforms in West Africa to drug discovery, chip design and next-generation computing, the consensus was that deep technology will be a key driver of competitiveness and exports in the coming decade.
MSMEs – The Backbone
While global markets and advanced technologies formed key pillars of discussion, speakers repeatedly emphasised that MSMEs remain the backbone of India’s and Tamil Nadu’s economy. V N Shiva Shankar, Senior Vice President, SICCI, noted that MSMEs contribute over 50 per cent to India’s GDP, exports and employment, making their growth critical to achieving the USD 1 trillion economy target. However, he cautioned that MSME-led growth will not be sustainable unless smaller enterprises adopt new technologies, improve productivity and integrate into global value chains. Technology adoption, innovation and skill development must, therefore, reach the MSMEs to ensure inclusive growth.
The summit concluded with a clear message: Tamil Nadu’s path to a USD 1 trillion economy will depend on how effectively it balances global diversification, technological transformation and MSME empowerment