Vivek Oberoi Sees Business Opportunity in Trump Era

Vivek Oberoi, a renowned Bollywood actor and entrepreneur, is grabbing attention for his active participation in the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2025 in Davos, where he's engaging with influential leaders and expressing his excitement about India's rising global influence. This year, India is taking center stage at WEF, with a high-profile delegation comprising five union ministers and three state chief ministers, all focused on attracting international investment and forging stronger global partnerships.

Vivek Oberoi At Davos

Oberoi’s participation at the World Economic Forum has been diverse, encompassing the promotion of drone technology and the exploration of investment opportunities in India's infrastructure and technology sectors. One of the key initiatives he showcased was Indrajaal, a company that specializes in drone technology, providing security and protection against wide-area drone threats.

At the forum, Oberoi unveiled a major development for Indrajaal: a memorandum of understanding (MoU) valued at $150 million (approximately Rs 1,300 crore) with the Telangana state government. His engagement extends beyond technology; he is also connected with the Motwani Jadeja Foundation, which is devoted to aiding Indian tech startups in gaining global recognition. He highlighted companies like Skyroot, which is focused on developing Indian rockets, and Digantara, a pioneer in satellite technology.

Global Defense Opportunity for India

The recent geopolitical tensions that include the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and escalated hostilities in the Middle East have seen defense equipment being purchased like never before, said Gurmeet Chadha, CEO of Complete Circle Consultants. According to him, defense inventories globally are at the lowest they have been in years because of prolonged conflicts and military aid in the war zones. This presents India as a huge opportunity for being the major manufacturer and supplier in the defense arena.

Former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan, in an interview with ET, said that if the Donald Trump administration sustains an anti-globalization approach, it may also open doors for India in defense production as the rising security threat across the world increases defense spending. Rajan asserted that the country must not miss any opportunity that comes from this, in strengthening its engagements on global trade and defensive partnerships.

Landmarks in India's Defence Sector

The forum also threw light on India's emerging defense sector. In 2023-24, India reached a record high in defense production, at Rs 1.27 lakh crore, with exports crossing Rs 21,000 crore for the first time. These exports covered more than 90 countries, which marked India's growing stature as a defense manufacturing and export hub. The Ministry of Defence has set an ambitious target of increasing exports to Rs 50,000 crore within the next five years.

Despite these successes, India is one of the world's biggest arms importers. But the "Make in India" initiative, which recently completed its 10-year anniversary, aims to reduce dependence on imports while boosting indigenous production and exports. That goes hand in hand with a broader strategy for India: promoting self-reliance in key sectors, including defense.