External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, speaking in Paramaribo, Suriname on May 8 during a three‑nation Caribbean tour (May 2–10), highlighted India’s growing role in stabilising the global economy. He cited International Monetary Fund data showing India is projected to contribute 17 percent of global real GDP growth in 2026, making it the fastest‑expanding major economy.
Jaishankar told a cross‑section of Surinamese society that India’s rise creates options and reduces risk for the wider international economy. ‘As we grow, we are very conscious. It’s not just about us. We help to de‑risk the international economy. We help to give more possibilities,’ he said, adding that India’s capacity expansion opens opportunities for partners through increased market access and more free trade agreements.
The IMF places India at the top of its list of the biggest contributors to global growth, ahead of the United States, which is forecast to contribute about 9.9 percent. Other notable contributors include Indonesia (3.8%), Türkiye (2.2%), Saudi Arabia (1.7%), Vietnam (1.6%), Nigeria (1.5%), Brazil (1.5%) and Germany (0.9%). Several European economies do not appear in the IMF’s top‑10 list.
The fund recently raised its India growth forecast for 2025 by 0.7 percentage points to 7.3 percent, reflecting strong momentum in the fourth quarter of the financial year ending March 31, 2026. It projects India’s growth to moderate to around 6.4 percent for the 2026–27 financial year, while still calling India a key driver among emerging market and developing economies.
Globally, the IMF expects growth to remain steady at about 3.3 percent in 2026, supported by easing trade tensions, accommodative financial conditions, and a surge in investment tied to technology—particularly artificial intelligence. The report also expects Indian inflation to move back toward target levels after a decline in 2025, helped by subdued food prices that should support domestic demand.
At the same time, the IMF flagged risks: AI‑driven productivity gains could trigger a pullback in investment and tighter global financial conditions, creating spillovers for emerging markets.
Jaishankar emphasised that India is actively expanding its global footprint to maximize its positive spillover effects. ‘We are trying to create a global footprint so that our impact on the international economy and the de‑risking of the world is as impactful, as far‑reaching as possible,’ he said, noting that India is negotiating and concluding more free trade agreements to broaden market possibilities for its partners.
The minister’s remarks framed India’s industrial and economic ascent not just as national progress but as a contributor to international stability and options for cooperation.
