Uday Kotak, a prominent figure in the finance industry and founder of Kotak Mahindra Bank, stressed the need for India to cut its dependence on foreign investments during a recent speech at a Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) event. He highlighted that a truly self-reliant nation should not rely on external financial support. Kotak pointed out that the global economic landscape is increasingly fragmented, making it crucial for India to bolster its domestic economic foundations. He urged companies to shift their focus from short-term financial metrics to long-term business growth, advocating for a three- to five-year perspective. Kotak also noted that while India's economic position has strengthened, risks such as rising crude oil prices and declining foreign investments remain. He called for enhanced domestic private equity and venture capital frameworks to support entrepreneurship, suggesting that pension funds and insurance companies should allocate more resources to private markets. Additionally, he acknowledged the growing role of mutual funds in fostering a robust domestic equity culture, which can provide a more stable source of long-term risk capital.