During a recent conference in New Delhi, Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran urged the corporate sector to reconsider its investment strategies, noting that the average profitability of India's top 500 listed companies surged by nearly 31% annually after the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this growth, Nageswaran pointed out that investments have been disappointing, with many companies opting to accumulate cash rather than invest in real assets. He stressed that the regulatory environment in India has improved, and with a significant $140 billion annual goods trade deficit, the private sector must take action to enhance domestic capabilities. Nageswaran also highlighted the opportunity for Indian firms to diversify supply chains away from China, as the gap between the Indian rupee and Chinese yuan has narrowed. Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of establishing strategic reserves of key commodities in light of the energy challenges posed by the ongoing conflict in West Asia, which is expected to affect inflation and fiscal targets for the government.