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IEC 2025: Why Technology Is Now Geopolitics - Zoho Founder Sridhar Vembu Explains

Essential brief

Key facts

The Washington Consensus guiding India’s economic growth has ended, marking a new era in global economics.

Structural changes involving China, supply chains, and national security have permanently altered the global economic landscape.

Technology is now a critical geopolitical factor influencing international relations and economic policies.

Countries are prioritizing self-reliance and strategic autonomy in technology to safeguard national security.

India must adapt to this new reality by balancing economic growth with geopolitical considerations.

Highlights

The Washington Consensus guiding India’s economic growth has ended, marking a new era in global economics.

Structural changes involving China, supply chains, and national security have permanently altered the global economic landscape.

Technology is now a critical geopolitical factor influencing international relations and economic policies.

Countries are prioritizing self-reliance and strategic autonomy in technology to safeguard national security.

At the Times Network India Economic Conclave 2025, Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu delivered a significant analysis of the evolving global economic landscape, declaring the end of the Washington Consensus that had guided India's economic growth for decades.

Vembu emphasized that the ongoing shifts are not mere temporary disruptions but represent a fundamental and permanent transformation in global economics.

Central to this change are structural forces related to China’s rising influence, the reconfiguration of global supply chains, and heightened concerns over national security.

These factors collectively signal a new era where technology and geopolitics are deeply intertwined.

The Washington Consensus, which advocated for free-market policies and globalization, is giving way to a more fragmented and security-conscious economic order.

Vembu highlighted how nations are now prioritizing self-reliance and strategic autonomy, especially in critical technology sectors.

This shift impacts global trade dynamics, investment flows, and international cooperation frameworks.

The implications for India are profound, as the country must navigate this complex environment by balancing economic growth ambitions with geopolitical realities.

Vembu’s insights suggest that technology is no longer just an economic driver but a geopolitical tool shaping alliances and rivalries.

Understanding this nexus is crucial for policymakers, businesses, and investors aiming to thrive in the new global order.

The conclave underscored the need for India to adapt its strategies to remain competitive and secure in a world where technology and geopolitics are inseparable.