India Still Rising?

India has become the world's fastest-growing major economy, and globe-trotting Prime Minister Narendra Modi has raised its geopolitical ambitions. Yet India faces many headwinds to its ascendance. The Honorable David C. Mulford, former U.S. ambassador to India and current vice chairman international of Credit Suisse, offered his views on India's economic progress and geopolitical challenges.

This event was sponsored by the Baker Institute International Economics Program.

Join the conversation online with #BakerIndia.

Featured Speaker

The Honorable David C. Mulford, Ph.D., is the vice chairman of International Credit Suisse, where he works with a range of clients across the integrated bank with a particular focus on governments and corporate clients around the globe. Mulford rejoined Credit Suisse in March 2009 after spending five years as U.S. ambassador to India. He began his duties as ambassador in early 2004, at a time when India–U.S. relations were undergoing a dramatic shift and the strategic partnership between New Delhi and Washington, D.C., was gaining momentum. Mulford’s work as ambassador included building a strong partnership between the United States and India, the world’s two largest multicultural democracies. During his tenure, India and the U.S. achieved unprecedented economic cooperation and expansion in business, health, finance, science, agriculture, education and military cooperation. Following the Mumbai terror attacks, Mulford facilitated the federal government’s offer to collaborate with New Delhi in information sharing, investigative collaboration and cooperation, strengthening both countries’ pledges against international terrorism. Mulford served as chairman international and member of the executive board of Credit Suisse from 1992 to 2003; he was responsible for leading Credit Suisse’s worldwide, large-scale privatization business and other corporate and government advisory assignments. From 1984 to 1992, Mulford was the under secretary and assistant secretary of the U.S. Treasury for International Affairs. He served as the senior international economic policy official at the U.S. Treasury under Secretaries Donald Regan, James A. Baker, III, and Nicholas Brady. He holds a B.A. in economics from Lawrence University, an M.A. in political science from Boston University and a Ph.D. from Oxford University.