Beyond Borders: How to navigate growth markets

By Denis Depoux, Damien Dujacquier, Pedro Guimaraes, Torsten Henzelmann, John Low, Saumitra Sehgal and David Born

Introduction

Follow our Project Manager, Scott Schenkelberg, as he explores the specific opportunities and challenges of entering new markets. He portrays each market using relevant statistics and talks to several key Roland Berger experts who share their personal experience. Each episode summarizes in 10 to 15 minutes key insights from recent Roland Berger Institute publications.

Episode 1: India’s economic ascent

India's economy has undergone a remarkable transformation, shifting from an agrarian base to a global services hub and becoming the world's fifth-largest economy, with projections to reach third by 2030. This growth is largely unique due to its primary reliance on robust domestic demand, fueled by a massive and expanding middle class.

Significant government investment in infrastructure, alongside a burgeoning digital transformation, further propels this internal growth engine. India's young population, with a median age of 28, presents a substantial demographic dividend, providing a large and dynamic workforce. While facing challenges in manufacturing and labor, India's distinct development path makes it a compelling case study for economic growth.

Find more information on India here: India’s remarkable economic ascent: A distinct story of growth | Roland Berger

Episode 2: China's next chapter?

China is undergoing a profound economic pivot, shifting from a long-standing export-driven and investment-heavy model toward one centered on domestic consumption and innovation. This transformation faces significant hurdles, including a property crisis, industrial overcapacity, and weak internal demand that signals a balance sheet recession. In response to escalating geopolitical pressure, particularly US tech constraints, China is accelerating its drive for technological sovereignty, resulting in rapid breakthroughs in areas like AI and semiconductors.

Simultaneously, Chinese companies are initiating a "new era of globalization"—moving beyond merely exporting goods to establish extensive, localized global production, R&D, and supply chain footprints across Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Americas to mitigate trade barriers and secure necessary market access for long-term growth.

Find more information on China here: Navigating disruption: China's economic model in a world in transition | Roland Berger

Episode 3: Can Europe reignite growth?

Europe faces serious challenges due to structural weaknesses like a demographic headwind, high energy costs, excessive regulation, and a widening investment gap. However, the Eurozone possesses significant opportunities to secure its prosperity. Policymakers must implement bold reforms, including creating a unified EU capital market to unlock private investment and rolling back overregulation.

Crucially, the continent still maintains a healthy trade surplus with the US and has highly competitive firms globally. Businesses must capitalize on this strength by actively investing in R&D and key technologies, adopting smart localization strategies in high-growth markets like the Global South, and restructuring to create a foundation for a decade of renewed expansion.

Find more information on Europe here: Europe. All in. | Roland Berger

Episode 4: What’s next in the Arctic?

The Arctic is becoming a region of growing economic and geopolitical importance. Melting sea ice is opening up new shipping routes that could shorten trade connections between Asia, Europe and North America, while the region’s critical mineral reserves and potential for energy-efficient data centers are attracting increasing economic interest.

At the same time, the Arctic presents significant operational and strategic challenges. The Northern Sea Route, the Northwest Passage and the Transpolar Sea Route require specialized vessels, infrastructure and the ability to operate in difficult ice conditions. The region’s future is also closely linked to questions of sovereignty, security and the balance of power. The episode explores the opportunities and risks companies need to consider when looking toward the Arctic.

Find more information on the Arctic here: What’s next in the Arctic | Roland Berger

Episode 5: Brazil 2050 – The aspirational scenario

Brazil has the potential to more than double the size of its economy by 2050 and become one of the world’s five largest economies. This aspirational scenario would require sustained annual growth of around 4% and a substantial increase in productivity rather than relying on workforce expansion.

The episode explores the structural changes needed to achieve this ambition, including higher investment, better regulation, stronger institutions, labor-market reform and improvements in education. It also examines the sectors that could support Brazil’s next phase of growth, from agribusiness and critical minerals to green energy, biofuels and data centers.

The AEGEA sanitation program in Pará provides a practical example of how large-scale investment and effective implementation can accelerate infrastructure development. The program supported the transition of water and sewage services across 126 municipalities in the state within 100 days.

Find more information on Brazil here: Brazil Vision 2050 – becoming the world's fifth-largest economy by 2050

Learn more about the AEGEA sanitation program in Pará: Roland Berger supports AEGEA to accelerate sanitation access across the Amazon

Episode 6: The rise of ASEAN

ASEAN has become one of the world’s most dynamic growth regions, driven by a young and cost-competitive workforce, a rapidly expanding consumer class and the major reconfiguration of global supply chains. In this episode, explore how the region’s economies are developing distinctive industrial strengths and positioning themselves in the global economy.

From semiconductors and electronics to critical minerals and digital services, each major Southeast Asian economy is building its own role within the region. At the same time, rising scrutiny of transshipment practices is increasing the importance of genuine local value creation. The episode examines why simple cost arbitrage is no longer sufficient and why long-term commitment and deeper local integration have become essential for international companies seeking to grow in ASEAN.

Find more information on ASEAN here: ASEAN as a global growth driver | Roland Berger