Ahmedabad — Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani has praised Michael Bloomberg’s approach to leadership, infrastructure and sustainable development, emphasizing the importance of balancing economic growth with clean energy and effective governance.
In a LinkedIn post following his meeting with the Bloomberg co-founder at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in New Delhi, Adani said lasting progress requires investment in both physical infrastructure and strong institutions.
“Nations need two kinds of infrastructure to endure. The first is visible and includes ports, transmission corridors, green hydrogen plants, gigawatt-scale compute clusters and transit systems. The second is invisible but decisive because it enables the first,” Adani wrote.
He said the second category depends on reliable data, accountable institutions and governance focused on execution rather than public announcements.
Adani acknowledged that developing economies and mature financial markets often approach economic growth and climate policy differently. While emerging economies must expand electricity generation, manufacturing and digital access to improve living standards, developed markets often place greater emphasis on accelerating decarbonization.
Despite those differences, he said both perspectives share the goal of making clean energy affordable and accessible.
“Decarbonisation cannot be an ideological decree that prices out ordinary citizens, shuts down factories or stalls the Global South,” Adani said. “If green energy is not reliable and viable for a small business owner in Gujarat or a household in Uttar Pradesh, the transition will collapse under its own weight.”
He also warned against relying indefinitely on conventional energy systems, arguing that governments and businesses must work together to reduce the cost of clean technologies until they become economically competitive.
Adani praised Bloomberg’s longstanding engagement with India, noting that his company has operated in the country for three decades and that his philanthropic initiatives have supported projects there for nearly 20 years.
At the New Delhi forum, Bloomberg highlighted India’s progress in artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing and green infrastructure, according to Adani.
The two business leaders also discussed the redevelopment of Dharavi, one of Mumbai’s largest informal settlements.
Adani said Bloomberg’s experience as mayor of New York demonstrated how data-driven governance and effective municipal administration can improve conditions in densely populated communities.
He emphasized that Dharavi’s redevelopment must go beyond constructing new buildings and instead focus on improving residents’ quality of life while protecting existing businesses and livelihoods.
“Dharavi cannot be approached as a real estate parcel. It is a vital, self-sustaining ecosystem of micro-entrepreneurs, multigenerational households, and relentless human grit,” he said.
Adani said the redevelopment should be evaluated by improvements in housing, sanitation, electricity access and economic opportunities rather than the amount of real estate developed.
He added that combining engineering expertise with community trust could establish Dharavi as a model for urban redevelopment across developing countries.
Reflecting on his discussions with Bloomberg, Adani said successful nation-building requires long-term investment, effective infrastructure development, transparent governance and strong local leadership.
“True nation-building demands four non-negotiable forces, namely patient capital, physical execution, transparent governance and capable local leadership. None can substitute for another,” he said. (Source: IANS)
