India’s Rise 2.0: Data Power, Trade Boom, and New Financial Leadership

India stands on the brink of a transformative economic era, driven by a powerful trio: a booming data centre industry, rapid global trade growth, and a seasoned new Finance Secretary poised to steer the nation’s financial future. As digital infrastructure expands into Tier-II cities and India cements its role as a top contributor to global trade, this multi-faceted rise signals not just progress — but a redefinition of the country’s economic standing on the world stage.

India’s Data Centre Landscape Expands

India’s data centre industry is experiencing an unprecedented surge, with the market projected to hit $6.4 billion by 2030, according to the latest ANAROCK report. This boom is powered by the growing demand for cloud computing, data storage, and digital services, compelling data centre operators to rapidly scale and modernise their infrastructure.

A key component of this transformation is the rise of edge data centres, particularly in Tier-II cities such as Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Visakhapatnam, Kochi, Bhubaneswar, Lucknow, and Patna. These smaller, decentralised facilities bring processing power closer to users, reducing latency and enabling faster, more efficient performance for data-intensive applications.

Moreover, sustainability is becoming a defining feature of this growth. Operators are increasingly turning to green data centres, prioritising renewable energy sources and energy-efficient technology. This aligns with India’s broader clean energy commitments, ensuring that the country’s technological advancement supports its environmental goals.

India’s Expanding Global Trade Footprint

While India’s digital infrastructure races ahead, the nation is also making waves on the global trade front. According to the DHL Trade Atlas 2025 report, India is expected to contribute 6% to global trade growth over the next five years — positioning it as the third-largest driver of global trade expansion, following China (12%) and the United States (10%).

India’s trade volume has been growing at an impressive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2% between 2019 and 2024 — more than double the global average of 2%. This rapid expansion is reshaping India’s global standing, helping the country climb from 32nd to 17th place in trade growth speed rankings. It is also cementing India’s position as a key player in international commerce, thanks to its resilient economic policies and strategic trade alliances.

Ajay Seth Takes Helm as Finance Secretary

Steering India’s financial course through this period of accelerated growth is Ajay Seth, the newly appointed Finance Secretary. A seasoned bureaucrat from the 1987-batch Karnataka cadre of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Seth brings a wealth of experience in economic policymaking and public finance.

Having previously served as Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs, Seth has been instrumental in shaping financial strategies that support India’s evolving economic landscape. His leadership comes at a critical juncture, overseeing policy reforms and fiscal strategies essential to sustaining both the data centre boom and trade expansion.

A Unified Path to Economic Power

As India navigates this dual transformation — becoming a global trade powerhouse while building a robust, sustainable digital infrastructure — Seth’s role will be pivotal. The synergy between data-driven innovation and trade expansion, backed by strong financial leadership, is positioning India for a new era of economic prominence. With technology, trade, and leadership converging, India’s rise as an economic leader seems not just inevitable, but imminent — shaping a future where the nation stands tall among the world’s most influential economies.