India's presence among the fastest-growing companies in Asia is constantly strengthening. The latest confirmation of this is provided by the prestigious Forbes Asia 'Best Under A Billion 2026' list. This year, 27 Indian companies secured a spot among the 200 best small and medium-sized public companies in the Asia-Pacific region.
China leads India with 28 such companies. This demonstrates that India's role in the new story of Asian growth continues to strengthen. This achievement comes against a backdrop of global challenges, including geopolitical tensions, supply chain uncertainty, and energy market instability.
Despite these difficulties, Indian companies managed to gain global recognition due to strong financial performance, steadily growing revenue, and improved profitability.
This year's list clearly indicates that the story of Asian growth is now closely linked to new technologies. Companies related to artificial intelligence (AI), software, semiconductors, and electronic components account for about 25% of the total selected companies. Furthermore, high results were demonstrated by companies operating in data centers, electric vehicles, renewable energy, industrial technology, and advanced manufacturing. This suggests that the focus of investment and growth is shifting towards future-oriented sectors.
India's placement in second place with 27 companies is not just a ranking. It is a signal that Indian small and medium-cap companies are no longer limiting themselves to the domestic market but are confidently taking their place in global competition. The growth potential of Indian firms in digital transformation, engineering, manufacturing, healthcare, specialty chemicals, and high-value industries is evident in these results. Experts believe that the share of Indian companies globally could increase in the coming years.
Among countries, China took first place with 28 companies, while India is in second place with 27. Malaysia also showed impressive results, including 19 companies in the list. According to Forbes, one reason for Malaysia's success is the country's rapidly developing AI infrastructure. Of the 200 companies on the list, 60 companies maintained their position for the second consecutive year, which is regarded as a sign of a sustainable business approach and consistently strong performance.
Forbes Asia analyzed over 19,000 public companies in the Asia-Pacific region. Only firms with an annual turnover between $1 million and $1 billion were considered. Selection criteria included debt level, revenue, and earnings per share (EPS) growth over three years, as well as average return on equity (ROE) over five years. Profitability, financial stability, and long-term performance were also assessed. This evaluation was based on publicly available financial data up to July 10, 2026.
This Forbes Asia list is more than just a ranking. It shows that Indian companies are forging a unique identity on the world stage through quality, innovation, and financial performance. The fact that they trail China by only one company indicates that India is rapidly becoming a powerful engine of growth in the new economic landscape of Asia. If the pace continues in the coming years, it cannot be ruled out that India will take the leading position on this list.



