India Poised to Lead in Global Manufacturing: Insights from the 14th CII Manufacturing Innovation Conclave

The 14th edition of the CII Manufacturing Innovation Conclave convened today, marking a pivotal moment in India's journey towards global manufacturing leadership. The event brought together over 200 industry leaders, government officials, and thought leaders to explore the future of manufacturing in India, focusing on innovation, sustainability, and the integration of advanced technologies.
 
The event's inaugural session was highlighted by the release of a groundbreaking report titled “Electric Vehicle Aggregates Value Chain and Sustainability,” presented by Mr. Vijay Mittal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries, Government of India. The report outlines key strategies and innovations to bolster India’s position in the rapidly evolving electric vehicle (EV) sector. Mr. Mittal emphasized the Ministry’s role in promoting Industry 4.0 and digital technologies among MSMEs and underscored India's potential to emerge as a global manufacturing hub. He also highlighted government schemes aimed at boosting domestic manufacturing, such as the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) for Advanced Chemistry Cells, Automobile and Auto Components, and Capital Goods sectors. During his special address, Mr. Mittal called on the industry to strengthen domestic manufacturing for a resilient supply chain.
 
Kishore Jayaraman, Conclave Chairman and President of Rolls-Royce India & South Asia, underscored India’s potential as a global manufacturing hub, stating, “With its 1.4 billion people, India has the capacity and capability to excel globally. We've proven our potential by sending rockets to Mars. To dominate the global manufacturing value chain, we must boost reliability, efficiency, and productivity. By becoming the go-to destination, India will secure its place in manufacturing.”
 
Dr. Gaurav Bhatiani, Director and Head of RTI International Ltd, highlighted the significant opportunities for India in global value chains, particularly in the electric vehicle segment. “There is a keen interest in India’s manufacturing sector given the changing global order, our demographic dividend, leadership in climate change, and technological convergence. This presents an immense opportunity to integrate into global value chains, especially in evolving segments like electric vehicles, which are fast emerging as the preferred sustainable transport option,” he remarked.
 
Sai Prasad, Conclave Co-chair and Chief Technology Officer of IoT & Digital Engineering at Tata Consultancy Services, shared insights on leveraging global advancements for manufacturing excellence in India. He stated, “When pursuing manufacturing excellence in India, we need to see how we can build on global achievements. With Digital Twins and GenAI opening tremendous possibilities, we have the potential to leapfrog into achieving manufacturing excellence.”
 
Mithugopal Mandal, Senior Advisor and Director of Smart Manufacturing Strategy & Solutions (India | APAC), NTT DATA, spoke on the revolution in Smart Manufacturing, noting, “The true revolution in Smart Manufacturing is not just sustainable transformation through digital inspiration, but in the intelligence that drives purposeful innovation for the world that has not yet been built.”
 
The transformative power of AI and its impact on manufacturing were central themes in the address by Mr. Purushottam Kaushik, Head of the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution at the World Economic Forum. He stated, “AI will be the transformative engine driving the future of manufacturing, but the true revolution lies in empowering the MSME sector. By integrating advanced technologies, we can unlock unprecedented growth and innovation, ensuring the benefits of Industry 4.0 reach every corner of the Indian manufacturing ecosystem.”
 
Sunil David, Member of the CII DX Committee and Digital Technology Consultant, emphasized the importance of a robust manufacturing ecosystem for sustainable transportation in India. He remarked, “The road to sustainable transportation in India is built on the foundation of a robust and resilient manufacturing ecosystem that values efficiency, innovation, and environmental stewardship.”
 
Further insights were shared by Mr. Gaurav Joshi, Deputy Secretary – Manufacturing Sector, Ministry of Heavy Industries, Government of India. He reiterated the government’s commitment to “Make in India” and its vision to make India a hub for manufacturing, design, and innovation. Mr. Joshi stated, “The Ministry of Heavy Industries has initiated a series of policies to grow the manufacturing sector, including the introduction of Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes for Auto and Auto Components & Advanced Chemistry Cells, the FAME scheme, etc. The focus now is on creating a Capital Goods policy and an Automotive Mission Plan, aiming towards the goal of Viksit Bharat.”
 
Tarun Mishra, Founder of Covacsis India, emphasized the importance of adopting advanced technologies in manufacturing, saying, “The next generation of the engineering workforce will expect IIOT and intelligent algorithms as default capabilities in factories. Not having such technologies is like offering them a horse cart in the 21st century.”
 
Nagaraj Venkatraman Joshi, Vice President of Aerospace & Defense and Country Head, Infosys Limited, Switzerland, highlighted the importance of cross-sector collaboration, stating, “Cross-sector collaboration is not only driving transformation but also steering our clients to navigate their next. Let’s continue to push boundaries and shape the future of manufacturing together.”
 
The conclave underscored the collaborative efforts required to position India as a leader in global manufacturing, with a focus on innovation, sustainability, and technological integration. The event was attended by over 200 industry participants.