new delhi, May 12 -- India should target consistent 7-8% annual economic growth to achieve its long-term objectives, Confederation of Indian Industry(CII) president Sanjiv Puri said in an interview with Mint. However, a projected 6.5% growth rate for 2025-26, factoring in a 20-30 basis point risk, is commendable given global challenges and underscores the resilience of India's economy, he added. "While [India's economic growth] is lower than last year, it must be seen in context. We are not insulated from the rest of the world. The fact that we can still deliver such numbers demonstrates the underlying strength of our economy," Puri said. "The resilience has come from years of structural reform-rationalization of income tax, GST implementation, investment in physical and digital infrastructure, and a strong foundation for manufacturing. These cumulative reforms have strengthened our economic base," he added. Last month the International Monetary Fund (IMF) lowered India's FY25 growth forecast to 6.2% from 6.5%, citing global trade concerns amid the US tariff war. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) also recently revised its India estimate to 6.5% from 6.7%. Puri said the key pillar of India's next growth phase will be deeper integration with global trade as nearly 70% of world trade is now part of global value chains. "India must position itself within these networks. Bilateral trade agreements are key to achieving this," he added. Puri said with improvements in physical and digital infrastructure, and rising investor confidence, India is positioning itself as a resilient and competitive hub....