57% of India CEOs believe the nation’s economic growth will improve over the next 12 months: PwC’s Survey

This is the most pessimistic CEOs have been regarding global economic growth since we began asking this question 12 years ago, and is a significant departure from the optimistic outlooks of 2021 and 2022.

However, almost six in ten India CEOs (57%) express optimism about India’s economy over the next 12 months.

In comparison, only 37% of Asia Pacific CEOs and 29% of global CEOs expect economic growth to improve in their countries or regions over the next 12 months.

In addition to a challenging environment, 41% of CEOs think their organisations will not be economically viable in a decade if they continue on their current path.

Further, 62% of India CEOs, in particular, believe that changing customer demand will impact profitability in their industry over the next ten years to a large or very large extent, while 54% are concerned about changes in regulations.

Globally, business confidence around economic growth varies starkly, with G7 economies – all weighed down by an ongoing energy crisis – more pessimistic about their domestic growth prospects than they are about global growth: France (70% vs 63%), Germany (94% vs 82%) and the UK (84% vs 71%).

Inflation, macroeconomic volatility, climate change and geopolitical conflict top CEOs’ concerns, the report said.

While cyber and health risks were the top concerns a year ago, the impact of the economic downturn is top of mind for India CEOs this year, with inflation (35%) and macroeconomic volatility (28%) leading the risks weighing on CEOs’ minds in the short term – the next 12 months – and over the next five years.

Climate change is close behind (24%), followed by financial exposure to geopolitical conflict risks (22%) and cyber risks (18%).

The conflict in Ukraine and growing concerns about geopolitical flashpoints in other parts of the world have caused India CEOs to rethink aspects of their business models, with almost half of the respondents that are exposed to geopolitical conflict integrating a wider range of disruptions into scenario planning and corporate operating models either by increasing investments in cybersecurity or data privacy 50% (48% global), adjusting supply chains 67% (46%- global), re-evaluating market presence or expanding into new markets 48% (46% global), or diversifying their product/service offering 59% (41% global).

CEOs are cutting costs but not headcount or compensation.

While cost cuts are high on the priority list globally, 85% of India CEOs do not plan to reduce headcount, and 96% do not plan to reduce compensation – demonstrating their resolve to retain talent.

Sanjeev Krishan, Chairperson, PwC in India, said: “Despite signs of a global economic slowdown, continuing high inflation and the ripple effects of the conflict in Europe, there is optimism among India CEOs about the country’s economic growth.”

To survive over the next few years, CEOs will need to manage external risks and drive profitability.

In the long term they will also need to reimagine, reinvent and reconfigure their businesses and work culture to thrive. Importantly, they need to act on both now, and simultaneously, he said.

He added, “If organisations are to remain viable in the near and long-term, they must also invest in their people and technological transformation agendas to empower their workforces.”

Managing climate risk a growing priority for businesses, the report inferred.

Climate change gains prominence as a cause of concern for India CEOs over the next five years, with 31% voicing that they believe their companies will be extremely/highly exposed to it.

They also see climate risk impacting their cost profiles and supply chains over the next 12 months. Indian companies are therefore trying to innovate, decarbonise and craft their climate strategy.

Many companies are embarking on the journey to address climate risks and decarbonisation without the information provided by an internal pricing mechanism for carbon.

In India, 34% of companies (more than 50% globally, which includes 38% of the biggest companies globally) say that they have no plans to apply an internal carbon price to decision making.

This could be a strong lever to account for considerations such as taxes and incentives, and leverage strategic trade-offs. 72% (60% global) have implemented or are implementing initiatives to reduce their company’s emissions and 60% (61% global) are innovating new, climate-friendly products and processes.

The continued importance of trust and transformation in generating long-term value, according to the PwC report.

Indian CEOs noted the need to collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders to build trust and deliver sustained outcomes if they are to generate long-term societal value.

Around 73% (54% global) of India CEOs collaborate with non-business entities to address sustainable development. while 57% (49% global) of CEOs collaborate on education.

While 31% of India companies are more likely to collaborate with industry consortia to create new sources of value, only 22% work with industry consortia to address societal issues.

However, many CEOs question whether critical preconditions for organisational empowerment and entrepreneurship – such as alignment to company values and leaders’ encouragement of dissent and debate – are present in their companies to tackle the increasingly complex risks organisations face.

As many as 22% (23% global) of India CEOs say leaders in their company often/usually make strategic decisions for their function without consulting the CEO. Only 51% (46% global) of India CEOs say leaders in their company tolerate small-scale failures often/usually.

However, more optimistically, nearly 93% (85% global) of respondents say the behaviours of employees are often or usually aligned with their companies’ values and direction.

The survey highlights the need for CEOs and their leadership teams to drive change and business reinvention from top to down in the years ahead.

Sanjeev Krishan, Chairperson, PwC in India concludes: “The diversity and complexity of today’s business challenges are placing a premium on the need to collaborate across the boundaries of the corporation. It is critical for CEOs to extend their use of collaborative ecosystems beyond creating business value to generating societal value.”