Engineering and automation major ABB is looking to increase India's contribution to its global revenues before 2030, as the group enters the year with its largest order book ever. President and CEO Morten Wierod shared these ambitious plans during an exclusive interview at the World Economic Forum, highlighting India's strategic importance in the company's global expansion strategy.

India's Energy Leadership Drives Growth Opportunities

Wierod emphasized India's leadership in the energy expansion phase, noting that while the global energy transition remains in early stages, electricity demand is rising sharply across multiple sectors. The surge is driven by economic growth, improving living standards, and the rapid expansion of data centers.

India has demonstrated particular effectiveness in adding renewable capacity, especially in solar and wind power, while simultaneously modernizing grid infrastructure. "India has been really driving that energy expansion," Wierod stated, emphasizing that grid reliability and security are increasingly central to economic resilience.

Automation Key to Managing Power Demand

Automation will play a critical role in managing the rising electricity demand across India's expanding economy. ABB sees automation as essential for reducing stress on power networks and preventing costly outages through improved grid management and smarter energy utilization.

Key automation applications include:

• Grid automation and load balancing systems
• Smarter energy use in commercial buildings
• Industrial process optimization
• Better timing and load balancing capabilities

"Automation is needed to use electricity smarter," Wierod explained, noting that improved timing and balancing of loads can significantly ease pressure on grids without compromising economic growth.

Strategic Manufacturing and Export Hub

India is emerging as a strategic manufacturing and export hub for ABB's global operations. The company already exports from its Indian facilities to markets in the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America, with plans to deepen this role further.

Wierod highlighted India's competitive advantages, including its cost structure, strong engineering capabilities, and execution depth, making it a natural base for serving global markets. Currently ABB's fourth-largest market globally, India is being challenged internally to move up in the company's market rankings.

Ambitious Growth Targets and Investment Plans

ABB aims to push India to the third-largest market position before 2030, with Wierod expressing optimism about achieving this goal earlier than the target date. To support this ambition, the company is implementing several strategic initiatives:

• Expanding manufacturing capacity across key facilities
• Increasing investments in technology and R&D capabilities
• Remaining open to strategic acquisitions that strengthen electrification and automation offerings
• Focusing on adjacencies that enhance core capabilities

The company is experiencing sustained momentum across its core businesses as global investments in power systems and industrial efficiency continue to rise. Under its "leaner, cleaner, faster, stronger" strategy, ABB is positioning competitiveness and sustainability as complementary goals, helping customers improve productivity while reducing emissions.

Market Performance and Future Outlook

Shares of ABB India Ltd were trading 0.80% higher at ₹4,729.00 as of 1:13 pm on Wednesday, reflecting positive market sentiment toward the company's growth strategy. ABB is seeing the twin trends of electrification and automation as multi-decade shifts likely to extend well beyond 2030, rather than short-term market cycles.

As ABB sharpens its focus following the planned robotics divestment, capital allocation and merger and acquisition activities will remain aligned with strengthening core capabilities in electrification and automation sectors.

Source: https://www.cnbctv18.com/market/davos-2026-abb-aims-to-raise-india-share-of-global-revenues-before-2030-ceo-wierod-ws-l-19825352.htm

ABB India Limited has successfully completed a critical infrastructure upgrade for Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), marking a significant achievement in India's energy sector modernization. The project focused on enhancing pipeline operations while maintaining continuous service delivery and strengthening national energy security.

Project Execution Excellence

The upgrade project was completed without any operational downtime, demonstrating ABB India's technical capabilities in managing critical infrastructure transitions. This zero-downtime achievement is particularly significant given the critical nature of petroleum pipeline operations and their importance to national energy supply chains.

Enhanced Security and Reliability Features

The upgraded infrastructure incorporates advanced cybersecurity measures, addressing growing concerns about digital threats to critical energy infrastructure. The enhanced security framework provides robust protection against potential cyber attacks while ensuring operational continuity.

System reliability improvements form another cornerstone of the upgrade project. These enhancements are designed to minimize operational risks and ensure consistent performance of the pipeline infrastructure, contributing to overall energy supply stability.

Strategic Impact on Energy Security

The successful completion of this upgrade project reinforces India's energy infrastructure resilience. By modernizing BPCL's pipeline systems, the project contributes to strengthening national energy security frameworks and supports the country's energy distribution capabilities.

The project demonstrates ABB India's commitment to supporting India's energy sector through advanced technological solutions and expertise in critical infrastructure management.