AHMEDABAD — Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani has highlighted the importance of combining infrastructure development, transparent governance and affordable clean energy to support India’s economic growth, following a meeting with Bloomberg co-founder Michael Bloomberg at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in New Delhi.
In a LinkedIn post Wednesday, Adani reflected on his discussions with Bloomberg, emphasizing that successful nation-building requires investments not only in physical infrastructure but also in institutions, reliable data and effective governance.
“His line of questioning crystallised something for me. Nations need two kinds of infrastructure to endure. The first is visible and includes ports, transmission corridors, green hydrogen plants, gigawatt-scale compute clusters and transit systems. The second is invisible but decisive because it enables the first. It rests on trusted data, accountable institutions and governance treated as an operating discipline rather than a stage for announcements,” Adani wrote.
He said emerging economies such as India face different development priorities from those of mature economies, particularly in balancing industrial expansion with environmental sustainability.
While developing countries must rapidly expand electricity generation, manufacturing capacity and digital connectivity to improve economic security, developed markets often place greater emphasis on decarbonization and regulatory alignment, he noted.
Despite these differences, Adani said both approaches must recognize the importance of making clean energy affordable and dependable.
“Decarbonisation cannot be an ideological decree that prices out ordinary citizens, shuts down factories or stalls the Global South. If green energy is not reliable and viable for a small business owner in Gujarat or a household in Uttar Pradesh, the transition will collapse under its own weight,” he stated.
Adani also cautioned against continued dependence on outdated energy systems, arguing that climate-related risks require coordinated action from investors, policymakers and businesses.
He said lowering the cost of clean energy will be essential to ensuring that sustainable technologies become economically competitive alternatives to conventional energy sources.
Reflecting on Bloomberg’s remarks at the forum, Adani praised his long-standing engagement with India and his perspective on the country’s growing role in artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing and green infrastructure.
“This pragmatism is what makes Mike’s record so instructive. When he addressed the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in Delhi yesterday, he spoke with conviction about India’s momentum across artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing and green infrastructure. It was not rhetoric crafted for a podium. Bloomberg has operated on Indian ground for thirty years, backed by nearly two decades of philanthropic partnership,” Adani wrote.
The two business leaders also discussed the redevelopment of Dharavi, one of Mumbai’s most densely populated communities, where the Adani Group is involved in a major urban renewal initiative.
Adani said the project must be evaluated by its ability to improve living conditions and preserve livelihoods rather than simply by the scale of its real estate development.
“Mike’s tenure in New York showed how municipal data and rigorous execution can serve dense urban communities. Dharavi cannot be approached as a real estate parcel. It is a vital, self-sustaining ecosystem of micro-entrepreneurs, multigenerational households, and relentless human grit. Its renewal cannot be measured in square footage. It must be judged by the tangible expansion of dignity through climate-resilient homes, modern sanitation, reliable power, and protected livelihoods,” he said.
Adani suggested that combining engineering expertise with community participation could make Dharavi a model for urban redevelopment across developing economies.
He also emphasized that large-scale development requires more than financial investment, calling for strong institutions and accountable leadership to ensure lasting results.
“True nation-building demands four non-negotiable forces, namely patient capital, physical execution, transparent governance and capable local leadership. None can substitute for another,” Adani stated.
He concluded that leadership should be measured not simply by present achievements but by the ability to create opportunities and expand what future generations can accomplish. (Source: IANS)
