Sridhar Vembu, CEO of Zoho, praised the 'survival trick' of Chinese entrepreneurs who successfully navigated protectionist barriers in China's economy. The Zoho CEO said that every time he was 'tempted to complain', it was a 'source of inspiration' for him.
X, in a post on Vembu, said, “My point in posting comparisons with China is to show that Chinese companies have overcome many challenges, from corruption to red tape. It is an inspiration to me; Every time I'm tempted to complain, I think of Chinese entrepreneurs.
Highlighting an article that mentions protectionism and other trade barriers between China's regions, he added: “Chinese entrepreneurs focus so much on exports, perhaps because it's easier to export than to sell within China! In other words, exports may be a solution for Chinese entrepreneurs, a survival tactic, not a sign of strength.
Vembu had previously advocated India to mirror China's technological and industrial growth. In an earlier article, he emphasized the importance of Indian companies focusing on creating sustainable businesses with revenues of $100 billion, not chasing inflated valuations, highlighting China's achievements in nurturing major technology companies over the past two decades.
The Zoho CEO urged Indians to embrace self-reliance and nurture local innovation. He wants businesses and entrepreneurs to focus on building technologies that suit India's unique needs, reducing dependence on foreign products and services.
He emphasized the importance of India's talent pool in driving this transformation. “Indians need to develop India's deep potential to earn real respect in the world. Wins abroad won't do it,” he wrote in a note on X.
Vembu's perspective highlights the need for indigenous innovation to strengthen India's position on the global stage, particularly in critical sectors such as technology and manufacturing.
Zoho's CEO has consistently emphasized the importance of India learning from China's development model and acknowledges the challenges involved. In June 2024, he highlighted China's impressive achievements in research and industrial growth and suggested that India should not wait for ideal conditions to pursue technological progress.