• HSBC study examines the ties, attitudes, opportunities and hopes the world’s largest migrant population have towards India
• 77% of Global Indians surveyed have strong connections to India, with 80% saying they are interested in its success
• 76% cite sustainability – environmental and social initiatives – as key reasons to invest, with third generation Indians more likely to have increased investments in the past three years
• 66% of Global Indians living in the UK plan to live in India at some stage in the future, with family, friends, food, and culture key connectors

HSBC has revealed the findings of its first ever Global Indian Pulse. The Indian diaspora is the largest migrant population in the world and yet there is limited data looking at how they view the countries* where they live, and also the strength and importance of their connections back to India.

Building on its 155-year relationship with India, HSBC’s first edition of The Global Indian Pulse is the most comprehensive cross-border study into Global Indian attitudes of its kind. The study examines the attitudes of 4,152 people across nine markets with a prominent Global Indian presence. It provides compelling evidence and new understanding of the emotional and financial contribution that ties three generations of Global Indians to both India, and to the countries that they were either born in, live in, or have settled in.

James Hewitson, Head of Wealth Management and Insurance for HSBC UK, said:

“Today, the exchange of ideas, culture, money, and goods flow around the world more freely than ever before, and the global connections people make and maintain are a vital part of this. As the world’s largest migrant population, Global Indians have a significant role to play here. Our report brings to life the huge contribution Global Indians make to the success and prosperity of both the countries where they live and India, through their connections to family and friends, their business ties, and cultural links, as well as their growing investments.

“These connections bring security, new perspectives, and growing ideas, all of which can help us to understand how we can open up a world of opportunity for our customers wherever they are.”

Influences on investors

Some 80 per cent of Global Indians surveyed are making investments of some sort in India – compared to 85 per cent in their country of residence. This trend is particularly true for Global Indians living in the UK, where 90 per cent are investing back into the UK market. Stocks and shares (47 per cent) and property (46 per cent) are the most common asset classes, but a significant proportion are investing in local businesses where they live, particularly in the UK (39 per cent).

Sustainability plays a major role in investors’ decision making, with more than three quarters (76 per cent) of Global Indians surveyed who are making investments saying environmental and social initiatives including renewable energy and skills development are a key part of their decision making when investing in India.

The pandemic has driven a change in attitudes towards investment in India. Almost three quarters (73 per cent) of Global Indians surveyed said the pandemic has made them feel closer to friends and family in India. And as a result, two thirds (65 per cent) have proactively increased their investments with over a third citing promoting positive change in India and supporting the country’s COVID recovery. This was particularly true among the third generation Global Indians surveyed, with three fifths (63 per cent) making the decision to increase their investments, despite having never lived there.

Ties and connections

The research found the Global Indians surveyed maintain strong connections back to their homeland regardless of whether they are first, second or third generation. More than three quarters (77 per cent) said they felt a strong connection with India, and four fifths (80 per cent) are very interested in the future success of India.

Even for those who have never lived in India, the connection remains strong, with those third generation Global Indians surveyed feeling just as attached to India as those who were born there. The data reveals the feeling of missing India means different things to different generations and could be experienced through family, food, friends, culture or religion:

Which, if any, of the following do you miss, from India?

	Total	First Generation	Second Generation	Third Generation
Family	57%	69%	52%	30%
Food	52%	55%	51%	42%
Friends	46%	57%	36%	29%
Culture	46%	47%	47%	39%
Religion	25%	25%	25%	26%

Commenting on the study, Professor Jaideep Prabhu, Jawaharlal Nehru Professor of Indian Business & Enterprise at the Judge Business School, University of Cambridge said:

“There is a huge vibrancy and an incredible untapped economic opportunity associated with India. This potential transcends traditional investments, like stocks, shares and property, and goes much deeper into the two-way flows of talent, capital, technology and access to markets between India and Global Indians’ countries of residence. Global mobility also strengthens connections, enabling greater innovation and cultural links across borders and all the associated benefits that come with this.”

Brain circulation

Historic reporting has highlighted the phenomenon of a ‘brain drain’ from India, however the Global Indian Pulse supports more recent thinking which shows more of a flow of people and ideas both to and from India.

The report examines whether Global Indians plan to either return or live in India in the future, and while just 4 per cent of Global Indians surveyed have never visited India, three fifths (61 per cent) report they are planning to live in India at some stage in their lives. Those living in the UK were most likely to return to India (66 per cent). However, in keeping with the concept of ‘brain circulation’ this is not necessarily a permanent move, with over three quarters (78 per cent) of second generation and more than four fifths (85 per cent) of third Generation Global Indians surveyed saying they still plan to retire in their current country of residence.