"The next 20 to 25 years will be the era of India," Fink said, stressing that India's growth story will increasingly be powered from within.
At the heart of that vision is a simple idea that getting hundreds of millions of Indians to invest in the country’s growth. Fink said India needs far more households to participate in capital markets, whether the opportunity lies in artificial intelligence, manufacturing, infrastructure or new-age services. As domestic participation deepens, India's dependence on volatile foreign capital will reduce, making growth more stable and resilient.
On the new technologies, Fink also said that he doesn't believe there is a bubble in artificial intelligence. "Of course, there will be some bankruptcies, but that is capitalism with some big successes and big failures," he said.
Ambani, meanwhile, offered an inside account of how BlackRock decided to return to India through a partnership with Jio Financial Services. According to Ambani, the decision came together quickly. What started as a short five-minute meeting eventually led to a high-profile global tie-up in India's asset management space.
The result was JioBlackRock, a 50:50 joint venture announced in July 2023, with both partners committing up to $150 million each. The aim is to build a digital-first asset management platform tailored for India's rapidly expanding investor base. The platform is expected to leverage Jio's technology reach and BlackRock’s global investment expertise to bring investing to a much wider audience.
For BlackRock, India is not just another emerging market allocation. It has become a core pillar of the firm's long-term strategy. The world’s largest asset manager ended 2025 with record assets under management of $14.04 trillion. Even in a volatile global environment, India continues to stand out as a destination where long-term capital can compound.
Fink has consistently argued that the global investment landscape is shifting. He has said that the "fog of global uncertainty" is lifting, with capital flows returning to dynamic markets that offer structural growth rather than short-term cycles.
(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of Economic Times)
Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock, recently declared that the next 20 to 25 years will be the "Era of India." Speaking at a fireside chat with Mukesh Ambani at the JioBlackRock event in Mumbai (February 2025), Fink outlined why the world’s largest asset manager (with over $14 trillion AUM) is placing such a massive bet on the Indian market.
Why BlackRock is "Betting Big" on India
Fink’s optimism isn't just about general growth; it's about a structural shift in how India generates wealth.
Growth at Scale: Fink projects India will grow at 8% to 10% annually over the next decade.
He noted that while other major economies (including the U.S.) face digitization hurdles, India has already "leapfrogged" them through digital public infrastructure. The "Savers to Investors" Shift: The core of the BlackRock-Jio partnership is to convert India from a nation of savers (who traditionally buy gold or hold cash) into a nation of investors.
"Money in a bank account doesn't compound; money in the stock market does," Mukesh Ambani added during the discussion.
Reduced Dependence on Foreign Capital: Fink emphasized that India’s future growth will be increasingly powered by domestic retirement savings rather than volatile foreign inflows.
This creates a more "stable and resilient" economic foundation. AI as a Multiplier: Fink dismissed fears of an "AI bubble," calling it a fundamental tool for competitiveness.
He believes India’s combination of technological adoption and a rising working-age population makes it the ideal ground for AI-driven productivity gains.
The JioBlackRock Partnership: A "Five-Minute" Deal
The collaboration between BlackRock and Jio Financial Services (JFS) is the primary vehicle for this bet.
| Feature | Details |
| The Deal | A 50:50 joint venture with an initial $300 million commitment. |
| The Vision | To democratize wealth management using BlackRock’s Aladdin technology and Jio’s massive digital reach. |
| Early Success | Since its mid-2024 launch, the venture has already crossed 1 million customers, with 25% being first-time mutual fund investors. |
| Pricing | Recently launched a personalized advisory platform starting at just ₹350 per year to reach the "next 200 million" investors. |
The "India vs. China" Context
Fink’s comments also carried a geopolitical weight. He warned that the "greatest risk" for any nation is under-investing in AI, noting that failure to do so would allow China to win the next era of global innovation.
Would you like me to look into the specific investment products JioBlackRock has launched for retail investors?
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