India, Too Big to Ignore

a. India's GDP is growing at about 9% per year
b. According to WSJ, investment in infrastructure is running at around 5% of GDP, or about $280 billion a year
c. It plans to raise that to about $500 billion over the next five years
d. India's currency has risen by about 11% YTD against the dollar, amid huge inflows of foreign capital; this trend is hurting the technology sector
e. Unlike China, India has avoided the heaving loading of dollars
f. According to the Cellular Operators Association of India, cellphone subscribers grew more than five million a month on average in 1H, totaling 136 million, or less than 12% of the population
g. According to Technopak Advisors, a New-Delhi based consulting company, India's total retail market is valued at about $370 billion a year and will expand more than 55% in the next four years. Supermarkets and department stores account for less than 5% of the industry, with millions of small players constituting the rest. Although retail would be a booming industry from a long-term perspective, big Indian and foreign retailers are facing tough resistance by protesters who fear chains will throw smaller merchants out of work
h. Foreign operations in India are restricted to minority investments in retail ventures, but they can establish cash-and-carry stores
i. India's largest listed stock is Reliance Industries with a market cap of close to $100 billion. It is 20% owned by foreign investors
j. The Ambani brothers, Anil and Mukesh, who control a group of companies using the Reliance name, has emerged to be one of the wealthiest family in the world due to surging economy and stock prices