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Companies should focus on five key steps, identifying priority trade corridors, strategic capital deployment, strengthening operational resilience, improving geopolitical preparedness and managing earnings exposure, to navigate rising geopolitical uncertainty and changing global trade patterns, according to a report by McKinsey & Company.
The report said multinational corporations are now operating in a global environment shaped by trade realignments, export controls, industrial policy shifts and geopolitical tensions. It stated "it's clear that multinational corporations (MNCs) have entered a new era. Growing regional realignments and shifting trade dynamics are forcing CEOs across industries to rethink their global strategies". According to the report, businesses that adapt their supply chains, investment strategies and operating models early will be better positioned to benefit from emerging global opportunities. The first step recommended by McKinsey is identifying priority trade corridors and growth sectors. The report said companies should focus on emerging trade routes and industries linked to artificial intelligence, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing and data infrastructure. It noted that India-linked trade corridors are expected to remain among the fastest-growing under multiple trade scenarios. The second recommendation is strategic deployment of capital. McKinsey advised businesses to place manufacturing operations in resilient and geopolitically stable regions while maintaining flexibility to shift production during disruptions. The report also highlighted the importance of using industrial incentives and tax support available globally in sectors such as semiconductors, defence and electric vehicles. The third step focuses on operational resilience. According to the report, companies should diversify supplier networks, reduce concentration risks and improve visibility across supply chains. It also suggested building workforce flexibility and regionalising technology systems to minimise future regulatory risks. The fourth recommendation is improving organisational agility and geopolitical preparedness. McKinsey said companies should create internal geopolitical monitoring teams, prepare crisis management frameworks and establish faster decision-making systems to respond quickly during global disruptions. The fifth step highlighted in the report is managing near-term earnings exposure. The report advised businesses to reduce tariff-related costs, align pricing strategies with geopolitical risks and strengthen currency management systems amid increasing volatility in global financial markets. The report stated that geopolitical disruption is no longer temporary and companies need to continuously reassess their growth strategies as global trade flows and industrial priorities evolve. McKinsey also noted that global trade continues to expand, but trade relationships are increasingly shifting toward geopolitically aligned economies and strategic sectors. The report added that businesses capable of integrating resilient supply chains, flexible manufacturing systems and coordinated investment strategies could gain a long-term competitive advantage in the changing global economic environment. (ANI)
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