From a $4 trillion economy to a projected $30 trillion by 2047—G20 Sherpa and former NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant laid out a bold roadmap for India’s future, stressing the need for rapid infrastructure expansion and sustainable urbanisation. Speaking at an International Air Transport Association (IATA) event in New Delhi, Kant underscored the enormity of India’s development challenge and opportunity, citing a need to “create two new Americas in the next five decades” and “build a Chicago every five years.”
Kant, an IAS officer from the 1980 Kerala cadre, pointed to India’s youthful population as a critical advantage in the coming decades. “The demographics are very young. The Western part of the world is ageing and Japan has already aged, even China is ageing. India is just 28 and even when we become 100, the average age will be 35 years. It is a country of baby boomers,” he noted.
India, having recently become the world’s fourth-largest economy, is currently valued at $4 trillion. Kant’s projections suggest that with the right strategy, the country could see a nearly eight-fold increase in economic output by its centenary of independence in 2047.
A major element of that vision is urban transformation. With 5 million people expected to migrate to urban areas annually, Kant called for the creation of 500 new cities to manage the population influx and stimulate economic activity.
The push also extends to aviation. “India’s ambition is to create 400 airports,” he said, highlighting the need for domestic carriers like IndiGo and Air India to become global players and match the scale and reach of international giants like Emirates and Qatar Airways. India currently operates over 150 airports.
Kant’s long-term growth vision is aligned with India’s broader goals of achieving developed nation status by 2047. He placed emphasis on infrastructure development, demographic leverage, and sustainability as the central pillars of this transformation.
As India’s G20 Sherpa, Kant plays a key role in shaping international economic discourse and ensuring India’s priorities are represented at the global stage. Sherpas, acting as envoys for their leaders, negotiate agendas and lay the groundwork for the G20 summits. The role, named after the legendary Nepalese guides, symbolises the complexity and scale of navigating global challenges.
The G20 itself comprises 19 countries and the European Union, representing two-thirds of the global population, 75% of global trade, and 85% of global GDP. Kant’s remarks reflect India’s growing influence and aspirations within this powerful bloc.