Chennai: Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu has said India’s economic progress must spread beyond major cities and reach districts and rural regions as well.
Speaking on the need for a broader growth model, he said India requires larger investments in research and development to achieve self-reliance across key technologies, not limited to artificial intelligence. He noted that fears of job losses due to technology are natural, but urged young people to continuously upgrade skills and adapt to changing times.
Vembu also pointed out that despite rising geopolitical tensions, India’s economy has shown resilience. He said the country should not rely solely on exports, and instead build a growth model that leverages India’s domestic market.
Emphasising rural development, he said expanding growth into districts and villages would create high-quality employment in rural areas and help reduce youth migration to metros such as Chennai, Bengaluru and Pune. He added that R&D-driven roles and advanced small industries can play a key role in strengthening rural economies.
