Indian business owners increasingly look beyond domestic markets as AI investment, global diversification and wealth protection shape long-term plans

Nearly three-fourths of Indian entrepreneurs plan to relocate abroad or obtain an additional residency, highlighting the increasingly global approach being adopted by India's wealthy business owners, according to the HSBC Global Entrepreneurial Wealth Report 2026.

The report found that 74% of Indian entrepreneurs surveyed intend to relocate or add another residency, broadly in line with the global average of 70%.

At the same time, Indian entrepreneurs are showing strong confidence in their financial prospects, while artificial intelligence (AI), international diversification and alternative investments are becoming increasingly important parts of their business and wealth strategies.

Singapore emerges as the preferred overseas destination

Among Indian entrepreneurs considering an overseas base, Singapore emerged as the most popular destination, cited by 14% of respondents.

France, the UK and the US followed, with each being selected by 11% of respondents.

The preference for overseas residency reflects the increasingly international nature of business and wealth management among high-net-worth entrepreneurs.

An additional residency can potentially provide greater flexibility for international business operations, family planning and global wealth management, although the financial and tax implications vary significantly by jurisdiction.

AI becomes a major business investment priority

Artificial intelligence has emerged as another major priority for Indian entrepreneurs.

According to the report, 99% of Indian entrepreneurs surveyed have either already changed or plan to change their business operations in response to AI. This compares with 95% globally.

Around 65% have already made operational changes to prepare for the impact of AI, ahead of the global figure of 60%.

The findings indicate that AI adoption is moving beyond experimentation, with entrepreneurs increasingly considering the technology as part of their broader business strategy.

More than half plan significant AI investment

More than half of the Indian entrepreneurs surveyed, or 54%, plan to invest between 11% and 30% of their turnover in AI over the next 12 months.

The figure compares with 61% globally.

For Indian business owners, AI is not being viewed solely as a cost-cutting or automation tool. The technology is increasingly being considered a potential source of new revenue opportunities, productivity improvements and competitive differentiation.

AI expected to influence employment

Despite concerns surrounding automation and job displacement, the survey found that a significant proportion of Indian entrepreneurs expect AI adoption to support employment growth.

Around 45% of respondents expect AI to increase employee headcount over the next two years, while 25% expect headcount to decline.

This suggests that entrepreneurs anticipate AI creating new roles and business opportunities alongside automation of certain tasks.

The ultimate impact on employment, however, will depend on how individual companies deploy the technology and how quickly employees adapt to changing skill requirements.

Competitive advantage is a key AI objective

Indian entrepreneurs identified several potential benefits from AI adoption.

Around 46% said AI could help them gain a competitive advantage, while 42% viewed it as a tool for identifying new markets or business opportunities.

Another 39% cited increased employee productivity and improved profit margins as potential benefits.

These responses indicate that entrepreneurs are increasingly linking AI investment to business expansion rather than viewing it purely as a technology upgrade.

Data security remains a major concern

Despite strong confidence in AI, entrepreneurs remain aware of the risks associated with implementation.

The leading concern among Indian respondents was data privacy and security, cited by 44%.

Other concerns included:

• 38% — Employee resistance because of concerns over job losses

• 35% — Integrating AI with legacy systems without disrupting operations

At the same time, 54% of Indian entrepreneurs reported a "great deal" of trust in AI to support business activities, compared with 46% globally.

The combination of high trust and significant investment intentions suggests that AI adoption could remain a major business priority for India's entrepreneurial community.

Wealth optimism remains high

Indian entrepreneurs also expressed strong confidence in their future financial position.

According to the survey, 97% expect their personal wealth to improve over the next few years, compared with 95% in 2025 and 90% globally.

More than half, or 51%, expect their wealth to become "a lot better", compared with 44% globally.

Business sentiment is similarly positive, with 97% expressing optimism about their current business prospects.

Technology and business opportunities drive optimism

The report identified several key reasons behind entrepreneurs' positive outlook.

Approximately:

• 46% cited technological advancements

• 42% cited business opportunities and business performance

• 40% cited advancements in AI

The findings suggest that technology-led transformation is increasingly becoming intertwined with expectations for future business growth.

Gold remains a major wealth allocation

Indian entrepreneurs continue to maintain diversified personal investment portfolios.

Among the most commonly held investments and financial products were:

Gold remains particularly prominent, reflecting its traditional role as a store of value and a potential hedge against inflation and market uncertainty.

Real estate funds see strong investment intentions

Among entrepreneurs who already hold relevant assets, 71% plan to increase their investment in real estate funds over the next 12 months.

This was followed by:

• Gold — 61%

• Direct investments in private companies — 61%

• Infrastructure funds — 61%

The planned allocation increases indicate an interest in combining traditional wealth-preservation assets with alternative investments that can potentially provide diversification and long-term growth.

What investors look for in alternative assets

The report found that risk-adjusted returns are the leading factor influencing alternative-asset investment decisions, cited by 50% of respondents.

Other important considerations included:

• 46% — Inflation protection

• 46% — Portfolio diversification

However, entrepreneurs also identified several challenges associated with alternative investments.

The most significant concerns were lack of valuation transparency (39%), high management fees and costs (38%), market correction risk (36%) and limited liquidity (36%).

Wealth protection remains a central priority

Protecting accumulated wealth continues to be an important consideration for Indian entrepreneurs.

The leading investment influences identified in the survey were:

• 47% — Protecting wealth against inflation

• 43% — Protecting wealth against losses

• 35% — Achieving global diversification

The findings indicate that wealth management strategies are increasingly extending beyond return generation to include capital preservation and geographical diversification.

Global residency and investment diversification go hand in hand

The growing interest in overseas residency is occurring alongside increasing interest in global diversification.

For entrepreneurs with international businesses and substantial assets, geographical diversification can form part of a broader wealth-management strategy. However, residency decisions involve considerations such as taxation, regulatory requirements, family circumstances, business structures and compliance obligations.

Similarly, diversification across asset classes can reduce concentration risk, but alternative investments can also carry higher complexity, fees and liquidity constraints.

Indian entrepreneurs take a global approach to wealth creation

The survey of more than 3,000 high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth entrepreneurs globally points to a changing approach among India's wealthy business owners.

Their plans combine several themes: expanding internationally, investing in AI, increasing exposure to alternative assets and protecting wealth against inflation and market losses.

The strong optimism around business and personal wealth also suggests that many entrepreneurs expect technology and global opportunities to remain important drivers of future growth.

Key Takeaways

• 74% of Indian entrepreneurs plan to relocate or obtain an additional overseas residency.

• Singapore, at 14%, is the most preferred destination among those surveyed.

• 99% have already changed or plan to change their businesses in response to AI.

• 54% plan to invest 11–30% of turnover in AI over the next year.

• 97% expect their personal wealth to improve over the coming years.

• Gold is held by 63% of respondents, followed by cash at 54%.

• 71% of existing real-estate-fund investors plan to increase their allocation.

• Inflation protection, wealth preservation and global diversification are key investment priorities.

Market Outlook

The findings point to a continuing shift among Indian entrepreneurs towards global diversification, technology-led business investment and broader wealth-preservation strategies.

AI investment is likely to remain a major area of business spending as entrepreneurs look for productivity gains, new markets and competitive advantages. At the wealth-management level, continued interest in gold, real estate funds, private companies and infrastructure assets indicates a preference for diversification across traditional and alternative investments.

The growing interest in overseas residency also highlights the increasingly global nature of India's entrepreneurial wealth. For investors and wealth managers, asset diversification, liquidity, valuation transparency, inflation protection and regulatory considerations are likely to remain important factors when evaluating such strategies.