PwC has warned that trust gaps across governance, regulation, and technology adoption could constrain long-term investment in India, even as corporate leaders remain cautiously optimistic on growth, according to its latest Global CEO Survey.

Trust as a constraint: 77% of the Indian CEOs expect strong growth in India while 57% are confident in their own company’s revenue prospects over the next 12 months. But a rising share is flagging increased scrutiny from internal and external stakeholders over transparency, governance standards, and leadership decisions. These pressures are contributing to slower decision-making and more cautious capital allocation, especially for long-term investments, the survey added.

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India solidifies its position among top investment destinations — 35% of the global CEOs are planning fresh investments in the US in the next year followed by India where 13% of the global executives plan to invest. India ranks ahead of UAE in the global CEOs preference as an investment destination.

Technology + AI signals: Artificial intelligence is emerging as a major driver of business transformation over the medium term, with CEOs flagging concerns around data security, model transparency, and responsible AI use as barriers to faster deployment and scalability.

Bottom line: Growth opportunities remain, but investment decisions are becoming more selective as execution risks come into sharper focus. For the India-MENA corridor — where capital flows are increasingly long-term and strategic — factors such as trust, regulatory clarity, and technology governance are emerging alongside macroeconomic conditions as key determinants of investment outcomes.

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