MC CEO Survey: A look at how India Inc titans view inflation, interest rates & other economic indicators
Ahead of the release of Interim Budget, Moneycontrol spoke to 53 CEOs to understand how the India Inc is viewing the country's economy. Around 47% among them are "very optimistic" about the business sentiment, and nearly 70% said they plan to invest in the next six months. Here's more
Nearly half, or 50.9 percent of the CEOs whom Moneycontrol spoke to, said they were "cautiously optimistic" about the business sentiment in the country. However, a significant 47.2 percent of the surveyed CEOs said they were "very optimistic".
2/11
Out of the 53 chief executives, 35.8 percent believed that India's tax rates are "somewhat attractive", whereas, 34 percent agreed that the country's tax rates are competitive enough to attract global investments.
3/11
Asked about what worries them about the India story, 32.1 percent of the CEOs said they saw "no major concerns", whereas, 28.3 percent marked their concern over red tapism. Another 17 percent said they believed "policy uncertainty" could be a potential stumbling block.
4/11
Over two-thirds of the surveyed CEOs said they were likely to invest in the next six months, whereas, only 9.4 percent claimed that they have no such plans. Another 20.8 percent of the top executives said they were "not sure".
A majority of the surveyed CEOs, or 58.5 percent among them, believe that the interest rates will be at "same level" in the next six months. However, 30.2 percent felt that the rates would be reduced, whereas, 5.6 percent felt it would be raised.
6/11
On inflation, 62.3 percent of the surveyed CEOs said it would remain at the same level in the next six months, whereas, 22.6 percent among them said it would slow down. Meanwhile, 7.5 percent of the chief executives said the pace of inflation would accelerate.
7/11
More than half of the CEOs who spoke to Moneycontrol believe that India is "likely" to become an alternative to China as a manufacturing destination, and another 24.5 percent believed that it could "absolutely" emerge as an alternative. However, 20.8 percent of the surveyed chief executives said it would not be possible in the near future.
8/11
On the recent surge in COVID-19 infections, around 45 percent of the CEOs said they were not concerned at all, whereas, 28.3 percent said they are "somewhat worried". Meanwhile, 24.5 percent among them said they were closely monitoring the situation.
A bulk of the surveyed CEOs, amounting to 78.4 percent, said they have seen a jump in the order books of their company over the past two years. Only 5.9 percent claimed to have not witnessed any such increase.
10/11
Nearly half of the 53 chief executives who spoke to this publication said they plan to increase their hirings over the next one year, whereas, 32.1 percent said the decision will "depend on the market demand". Meanwhile, 18.9 percent stated that they have no plan to raise their employee count.
11/11
The ongoing uncertainty in the global economy is "somewhat" worrying 35.8 percent of the surveyed CEOs, whereas, another 35.8 percent said they are "monitoring the situation". Around 15 percent of them agreed that they are "worried" due to it, whereas, 13.2 percent said they are not concerned.
![Nearly half, or 50.9 percent of the CEOs whom Moneycontrol spoke to, said they were "cautiously optimistic" about the business sentiment in the country. However, a significant 47.2 percent of the surveyed CEOs said they were "very optimistic".](https://images.moneycontrol.com/static-mcnews/2024/01/mc-ceo-survey-slide1.jpg "Nearly half, or 50.9 percent of the CEOs whom Moneycontrol spoke to, said they were "cautiously optimistic" about the business sentiment in the country. However, a significant 47.2 percent of the surveyed CEOs said they were "very optimistic".")
![Out of the 53 chief executives, 35.8 percent believed that India's tax rates are "somewhat attractive", whereas, 34 percent agreed that the country's tax rates are competitive enough to attract global investments.](https://images.moneycontrol.com/static-mcnews/2024/01/mc-ceo-survey-slide2.jpg "Out of the 53 chief executives, 35.8 percent believed that India's tax rates are "somewhat attractive", whereas, 34 percent agreed that the country's tax rates are competitive enough to attract global investments.")
![Asked about what worries them about the India story, 32.1 percent of the CEOs said they saw "no major concerns", whereas, 28.3 percent marked their concern over red tapism. Another 17 percent said they believed "policy uncertainty" could be a potential stumbling block.](https://images.moneycontrol.com/static-mcnews/2024/01/mc-ceo-survey-slide3.jpg "Asked about what worries them about the India story, 32.1 percent of the CEOs said they saw "no major concerns", whereas, 28.3 percent marked their concern over red tapism. Another 17 percent said they believed "policy uncertainty" could be a potential stumbling block.")
![Over two-thirds of the surveyed CEOs said they were likely to invest in the next six months, whereas, only 9.4 percent claimed that they have no such plans. Another 20.8 percent of the top executives said they were "not sure".](https://images.moneycontrol.com/static-mcnews/2024/01/mc-ceo-survey-slide4.jpg "Over two-thirds of the surveyed CEOs said they were likely to invest in the next six months, whereas, only 9.4 percent claimed that they have no such plans. Another 20.8 percent of the top executives said they were "not sure".")
![A majority of the surveyed CEOs, or 58.5 percent among them, believe that the interest rates will be at "same level" in the next six months. However, 30.2 percent felt that the rates would be reduced, whereas, 5.6 percent felt it would be raised.](https://images.moneycontrol.com/static-mcnews/2024/01/mc-ceo-survey-slide5.jpg "A majority of the surveyed CEOs, or 58.5 percent among them, believe that the interest rates will be at "same level" in the next six months. However, 30.2 percent felt that the rates would be reduced, whereas, 5.6 percent felt it would be raised.")
![More than half of the CEOs who spoke to Moneycontrol believe that India is "likely" to become an alternative to China as a manufacturing destination, and another 24.5 percent believed that it could "absolutely" emerge as an alternative. However, 20.8 percent of the surveyed chief executives said it would not be possible in the near future.](https://images.moneycontrol.com/static-mcnews/2024/01/mc-ceo-survey-slide7.jpg "More than half of the CEOs who spoke to Moneycontrol believe that India is "likely" to become an alternative to China as a manufacturing destination, and another 24.5 percent believed that it could "absolutely" emerge as an alternative. However, 20.8 percent of the surveyed chief executives said it would not be possible in the near future.")
![On the recent surge in COVID-19 infections, around 45 percent of the CEOs said they were not concerned at all, whereas, 28.3 percent said they are "somewhat worried". Meanwhile, 24.5 percent among them said they were closely monitoring the situation.](https://images.moneycontrol.com/static-mcnews/2024/01/mc-ceo-survey-slide8.jpg "On the recent surge in COVID-19 infections, around 45 percent of the CEOs said they were not concerned at all, whereas, 28.3 percent said they are "somewhat worried". Meanwhile, 24.5 percent among them said they were closely monitoring the situation.")
![Nearly half of the 53 chief executives who spoke to this publication said they plan to increase their hirings over the next one year, whereas, 32.1 percent said the decision will "depend on the market demand". Meanwhile, 18.9 percent stated that they have no plan to raise their employee count.](https://images.moneycontrol.com/static-mcnews/2024/01/mc-ceo-survey-slide10.jpg "Nearly half of the 53 chief executives who spoke to this publication said they plan to increase their hirings over the next one year, whereas, 32.1 percent said the decision will "depend on the market demand". Meanwhile, 18.9 percent stated that they have no plan to raise their employee count.")
![The ongoing uncertainty in the global economy is "somewhat" worrying 35.8 percent of the surveyed CEOs, whereas, another 35.8 percent said they are "monitoring the situation". Around 15 percent of them agreed that they are "worried" due to it, whereas, 13.2 percent said they are not concerned.](https://images.moneycontrol.com/static-mcnews/2024/01/mc-ceo-survey-slide11-1.jpg "The ongoing uncertainty in the global economy is "somewhat" worrying 35.8 percent of the surveyed CEOs, whereas, another 35.8 percent said they are "monitoring the situation". Around 15 percent of them agreed that they are "worried" due to it, whereas, 13.2 percent said they are not concerned.")
