Renowned investor and author Ruchir Sharma said that the outcome of the US Presidential elections will not make much difference to India since New Delhi's position as Washington's anti-China trade partner remains strong.

In an exclusive interview to Network18’s Zakka Jacob and Bodhisatva Ganguli, Sharma said that India has a natural advantage over China due to the prevailing anti-Beijing sentiment in the West.

When asked who would be better for India between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris—the two US presidential candidates— Sharma said that he does not view these elections from a policy standpoint.

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"I don't think it matters much who wins the US election for India because our position as the anti-China trade partner remains strong. As long as China remains a central issue, India naturally plays a key role in these dynamics," he said.

He further added, "What happens in the Senate, what happens in the House also matters. We are focused on the top two out there, but those things matter."

During the interview, Sharma also spoke about India’s geopolitical strategy and economic policies.

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He highlighted that India’s strategic advantage lies in its current role as a counterbalance to China, rather than the specific outcomes of US political contests.

Sharma stressed that India must leverage this position to its advantage while addressing its internal challenges. "In India's case, we have a natural advantage, which is that currently the West is all very anti-China and as long as we can tap into that. But I hope we can also tap into that commercially," he said.

Sharma also delved into China's economic model, noting, "China's development is often praised, but it was built on a ruthless form of capitalism. China opted not to establish a welfare state until it reached a certain income level. This approach enabled rapid economic growth, including the downsizing of nearly 100 million public sector workers in the 1990s."

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He contrasted this with India’s approach, saying, "India cannot replicate China's extreme growth model due to our commitment to welfare spending. Instead, our focus should be on privatisation and infrastructure development to drive growth."

On the current Indian government's economic management, Sharma noted, "Under the Modi administration, macroeconomic management has been relatively effective, with inflation kept under control. This is a marked improvement from the UPA-II era, where inflation was allowed to spiral. The Modi government has shifted focus from excessive welfare spending to infrastructure development, which is a positive change."

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Sharma highlighted that in India, the link between economic growth and electoral outcomes is tenuous.

"Inflation remains a key factor in political outcomes. The Modi government has made progress by balancing welfare spending with infrastructure investment, improving on the imbalances of the previous administration."