Why a Japanese entrepreneur sees India as the bridge between rival worlds
A Japanese entrepreneur living in India as a new global leader, using its ties across competing power blocs to shape the next global economic and technology order
In a geopolitical landscape currently captivated by New Delhi, a Japanese entrepreneur views India as a crucial bridge connecting opposing forces. India hosted the 18th BRICS Summit in September, where world leaders such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping convened.
While this gathering often appears as a battle between the BRICS and the G7, Naotaka Nishiyama, an entrepreneur in India, perceives the significance differently. Living in India, he has a unique perspective on global politics that rarely surfaces in Japan or the West, which remains focused on the G7. Economic projections further emphasize the shifting global influence, with BRICS economies expected to grow at 3.1%–3.7% in 2026, compared to the G7's 1%.
Additionally, BRICS comprises nearly 50% of the world's population, while the G7 accounts for about 10%. Moreover, BRICS represents roughly 40% of global GDP on a purchasing-power-parity basis, while the G7 represents around 28%. Nishiyama asserts that India is at the core of this transformation, serving as the catalyst for the global economy's shift.
India's strategic position allows it to engage with various powerful entities without fully aligning with any single one. The country actively shapes BRICS' agenda, ensuring it remains a constructive, development-focused platform for the Global South and a stabilizing force. India also bridges China and Russia, who seek to counter Western influence, and the US, a rival of BRICS members China and Russia.
Despite signing a $500 billion trade deal with the US—a G7 member and China's adversary—and being part of the Quad—with the US, Japan, and Australia—India maintains strategic autonomy by pursuing economic ties with all major centers of power. At the recent BRICS summit, artificial intelligence emerged as a critical area of collaboration under India's leadership.
The New Delhi Declaration, unanimously adopted, recognizes AI as a major force for economic growth and sustainable development, advocating for greater access to AI resources and joint efforts on safety, security, reliability, and energy efficiency. As a founder and CEO of a global HR technology company, Nishiyama emphasizes that businesses should closely observe India's role.
He highlights India's confident multi-alignment as a model of modern leadership in managing complex geopolitics.
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