The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) organised the 11th edition of the Manufacturing Conclave East, with the theme "Future Ready to Future Proof Manufacturing." The event brought together eminent industry leaders to discuss emerging technologies and their potential to future-proof the manufacturing sector, focusing on competitiveness, inclusiveness, and sustainability.
Kamal Bali, President and Managing Director of Volvo Group India Pvt Ltd, highlighted India's impressive GDP growth rate of 8.2% amidst global geopolitical challenges. He emphasized the need for adaptability, flexibility, and innovation to sustain this growth and shared insights on eight mega trends that could boost the manufacturing sector from $600 billion in 2024 to $6 trillion by 2047. He reinforced that sustainability is imperative for future success.
Suvendra Behera, Chairman of CII Eastern Region and Vice Chairman & Managing Director of RSB Transmissions (I) Ltd, addressed the critical issue of brain drain and stressed the importance of establishing skill development centers in India to retain talent. He noted the manufacturing sector's current 16-17% contribution to India's GDP, with a goal to increase it to at least 25% by 2025.
Ranjot Singh, Chairman of CII Jharkhand State Council and Managing Director of Emdet Jamshedpur Private Limited, inaugurated the session, expressing confidence that India would become the leading manufacturing hub by 2030. He emphasized the significance of the Eastern Region in India's industrial growth and called for a collaborative environment to address key economic issues.
Ramphal Nehra, Chairman of CII ER Manufacturing Sub Committee and Director & Plant Manager of Tata Cummins Pvt Ltd, highlighted the government's supportive schemes and initiatives, asserting that the "Make in India" campaign presents vast opportunities for investment and growth in manufacturing.
Ujjal Chakraborti, Immediate Past Chairman of CII Jharkhand State Council and Managing Director of Jamshedpur Continuous Annealing and Processing Company Pvt Ltd, spoke about Jharkhand's strategic advantage due to its abundant mineral resources and significant contributions to India's manufacturing sector, particularly in steel and automotive industries.
Ravindra Kulkarni, Vice Chairman of CII Jamshedpur Zonal Council and Head of Jamshedpur Plant at Tata Motors Ltd, underscored India's commitment to sustainability, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2070. He stressed the pivotal role of MSMEs and the importance of digital transformation, data analytics, and robotics in driving progress.
Prithish Chowdhary, Co-Chairman of CII ER Manufacturing Sub Committee and Dy Managing Director of Titagarh Rail System Ltd, highlighted India's resurgence as a global economic power.
The conclave featured insights from notable speakers including Sanjay Sabherwal, Managing Director of Metalwork Industries Ltd; Saurabh Verma, Managing Director & Partner at BCG; Ravish Sharma, COO of ESL Steel Ltd; M Sankaranarayanan, Executive Director of Group Operations at RSB Transmissions (I) Ltd; and several others from leading industry organizations.
The 11th edition of the Manufacturing Conclave East provided a platform for over 200 participants to engage in sessions on global value chain realignment, intelligent manufacturing technologies, and sustainable practices. The event fostered networking opportunities, enabling industry leaders, policymakers, and experts to forge partnerships and explore new business prospects. The conclave aimed to equip participants with actionable strategies to navigate the evolving manufacturing landscape effectively.
