Uday Kotak Warns of Major Global Structural Shift at CII Summit 2026

Leading industrialist and banker Uday Kotak delivered a thought-provoking address at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Annual Business Summit 2026, offering deep insights into the future of the global economy and the evolving world order.

Speaking at the summit, Kotak observed that modern society has largely been shaped by the experiences of the last 80 years, from 1945 to 2025 — a period during which global crises were typically followed by recovery, stability, and economic normalization. He said the world gradually developed a belief that no matter how severe a crisis appeared, systems would eventually stabilize and economies would bounce back.

However, Kotak cautioned that history before 1945 presents a very different reality. He explained that major wars, conflicts, and geopolitical disruptions in earlier centuries often triggered permanent structural transformations across the world. Borders shifted, empires collapsed, new nations emerged, and global economic power centers moved dramatically from one region to another.

Referring to historical examples such as European conflicts, American independence, the rise of China, and the creation of Hong Kong under British rule, Kotak said every major disruption in history fundamentally altered the global landscape.

According to him, the present world may now be entering a phase that combines both short-term normalization and long-term structural change. While many still believe current geopolitical and economic tensions will eventually settle, Kotak emphasized that the possibility of deep and lasting transformation cannot be ignored.

One of the key concerns highlighted in his speech was the return of what he described as “tribal mindsets” in global politics and economics. Kotak observed that countries and powerful groups are increasingly focusing on territory, ownership, strategic assets, and control over critical resources. He warned that this growing tribal behavior is beginning to reshape international relations and global economic structures.

At the same time, Kotak pointed out that the rapid rise of Artificial Intelligence is creating another major shift in the world’s intangible economy. He noted that control over knowledge, technology, digital infrastructure, and AI-driven systems is becoming increasingly important in determining future global influence.

Concluding his address, Kotak warned that both tangible and intangible wealth are steadily becoming concentrated in the hands of a few powerful entities across the world. He said this emerging concentration of power could redefine the future global economic and political order in the years ahead.