At the 2021 Forbes Under 30 Summit, held on October 11-12, John Chambers, former chairman & CEO of Cisco and founder was a speaker at a session on How to Disrupt Yourself and Grow Your Business.
In the course of the discussion, Chambers said, “If I have to bet on one country in Asia, it is India. If I had to bet on two countried, I would bet on India twice. Prime Minister Modi of India is among the top three leaders of the world. His strategy on digitizing the country is top-notch,” Chambers noted.
He added that he is looking at India as the next big economic force in Asia after China’s recent unpredictability and crackdown on tech. “I had bet my career on China in 1995. But there is too much unpredictability and it’s a win-lose situation. You have got to have predictability, but in the current scenario, you don’t know what the laws are going to be…” added Chambers. The authorities in China have also introduced tougher data protection laws for firms operating in the country. The move irked many global investors including those who have supported China for years.
Last updated: December 26th, 2025
