A factory in India. Elke Scholiers for The New York Times

Is India the future for international brands?

In a global marketplace reshaped by volatile forces — especially the animosity between the U.S. and China — some multinational retailers are turning away from Chinese factories. Instead, many are looking to India, which may be on the verge of becoming a major manufacturing power.

The shift could fortify the global supply chain and lift fortunes in India. The country has roughly one billion people of working age, but about only 430 million jobs, according to an independent research institution. Growing exports could be a source of new jobs — especially for women, who have been largely shut out of the formal working ranks.