Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of Bharti Airtel, has supported Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for stronger domestic investment and reduced dependence on imports, especially gold, to help India navigate global economic uncertainty.
Speaking at the Confederation of Indian Industry Annual Business Summit, Mittal said the current global environment demands greater focus on building strength within India. He stressed that industries must contribute actively to national resilience, given that millions of jobs depend on sustained economic growth.
He echoed the Prime Minister’s view on gold imports, saying the “obsession with importing gold” needs to be reduced in order to protect economic stability. Mittal also highlighted the importance of lowering energy costs and accelerating the shift toward renewable energy, especially at a time of global oil price volatility driven by geopolitical tensions.
On the energy front, he pointed to rising pressure from international conflicts and said India must respond by strengthening its domestic capabilities rather than slowing investment. He also underlined that renewable energy adoption is not just environmental policy but an economic necessity.
Mittal added that companies like Airtel are continuing to invest heavily in India despite global uncertainty, noting large-scale capital expenditure as proof of confidence in the country’s long-term growth story.
Overall, his remarks aligned closely with the government’s push for self-reliance, energy efficiency and reduced import dependence, particularly in gold and fossil fuels, while encouraging sustained private sector investment in India’s growth.
