New Delhi, May 3 (IANS) Amid rising global concerns over oil price volatility and the ongoing Middle East conflict, Morgan Stanley has struck an optimistic note on India, identifying the turbulence as a catalyst for long-term investment growth.

In its latest report, the global brokerage has upgraded its outlook for India’s investment cycle, projecting the investment-to-GDP ratio to climb to 37.5 per cent by FY30, up from its earlier estimate of 36.5 per cent.

This upward revision translates into an additional $800 billion in cumulative capital expenditure over the next five years. A significant portion of this incremental investment — nearly 60 per cent — is expected to flow into key sectors such as energy, data centres, and defence.

The brokerage believed this surge in capital spending will have far-reaching implications for Indian equities. A stronger investment cycle is expected to boost the share of corporate profits in GDP, supporting earnings growth of over 15 per cent CAGR during this period. Morgan Stanley estimates that such momentum could potentially drive the market towards 10 times FY31 earnings.

The backdrop to this investment push lies in the vulnerabilities exposed by the Middle East conflict, particularly India’s heavy dependence on imported energy and critical inputs. Policymakers are responding with a renewed focus on self-reliance and risk mitigation.

In the energy sector, where India imports about 85 per cent of its crude oil and half of its natural gas requirements, the government is pursuing a multi-pronged strategy.

This includes expanding strategic reserves, ramping up domestic coal production and gasification, accelerating renewable energy capacity with improved grid infrastructure, and advancing nuclear projects. Coal, in particular, continues to play a crucial role in ensuring power stability.

In fertilisers, efforts are underway to reduce dependence on imported inputs like DAP and MOP, which have historically strained subsidy finances. The government is increasing domestic urea production, diversifying import sources, and promoting more efficient nutrient usage to safeguard both farmers and fiscal health.

Defence spending is also undergoing a structural shift. India aims to raise defence expenditure from around 2 per cent to 2.5 per cent of GDP by FY31, with a strong emphasis on indigenisation and greater participation from the private sector. This transition is already visible in recent procurement trends.

Meanwhile, the data centre segment is emerging as a major growth driver. Geopolitical uncertainties, combined with India’s data localisation policies, are encouraging global companies to diversify their infrastructure footprint. Morgan Stanley expects India’s data centre capacity to surge from 1.8 GW currently to 10.5 GW by FY31.

–IANS

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