Jamshedpur: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) organized the 11th edition of the Manufacturing Conclave East on July 5, 2024, at The Cruze, Jamshedpur, under the theme “Future Ready to Future Proof Manufacturing.” Eminent industry leaders discussed emerging technologies and their potential to secure the future of the manufacturing sector, with a focus on competitiveness, inclusiveness, and sustainability.
Kamal Bali, President and Managing Director of Volvo Group India Pvt Ltd, graced the event. In his address, he highlighted India’s GDP growth of 8.2% amidst global geopolitical challenges, emphasizing the country’s potential to lift millions out of poverty with sustained economic growth.
Bali stressed the importance of adaptability, flexibility, and agility, and outlined eight mega trends that could boost India’s manufacturing sector from $600 billion in 2024 to $6 trillion by 2047. He underscored that sustainability is not an option but an imperative.
Suvendra Behera, Chairman of CII Eastern Region and Vice Chairman & Managing Director of RSB Transmissions (I) Ltd, noted that the manufacturing sector contributes 16-17% to India’s GDP, with a target to increase this to 25% by 2025. He expressed concern about brain drain and emphasized the need for skill development centers to retain talent within the country.
Ranjot Singh, Chairman of CII Jharkhand State Council and Managing Director of Emdet Jamshedpur Private Limited, inaugurated the session. He predicted that India will become the leading manufacturing hub by 2030 and highlighted the Eastern Region’s pivotal role in this journey. Singh called for a collaborative environment to address the challenges of a rapidly evolving economy.
Ramphal Nehra, Chairman of CII ER Manufacturing Sub Committee and Director & Plant Manager of Tata Cummins Pvt Ltd, emphasized the importance of government schemes and initiatives like “Make in India” in driving dynamic growth in the manufacturing sector.
Ujjal Chakraborti, Immediate Past Chairman of CII Jharkhand State Council and Managing Director of Jamshedpur Continuous Annealing and Processing Company Pvt Ltd, highlighted Jharkhand’s strategic importance due to its mineral resources and industrial output, particularly in steel and automotive sectors.
Ravindra Kulkarni, Vice Chairman of CII Jamshedpur Zonal Council and Head of Tata Motors’ Jamshedpur Plant, emphasized India’s commitment to sustainability and the role of MSMEs. He highlighted digital transformation, data analytics, and robotics as key drivers of progress.
Prithish Chowdhary, Co-Chairman of CII ER Manufacturing Sub Committee and Deputy Managing Director of Titagarh Rail System Ltd, remarked that India’s growth signifies a return to its former glory.
The conclave featured insights from various industry experts, including Sanjay Sabherwal (Metalwork Industries Ltd), Saurabh Verma (BCG), Ravish Sharma (ESL Steel Ltd), M Sankaranarayanan (RSB Transmissions), Sarajit Jha (Tata Steel Ltd), Ashish Nene (Deloitte), Prasanna Deshpande (ABB India Ltd), Sarit Kumar Kundu (Almatis), Vinita Bajoria (Nicco Cables), Anand (Tata Hitachi), Shibojyoti Dutta (Tata Steel Ltd), Vishal Agarwalla (CTC India Pvt Ltd), and Tusar Routray (RSB Transmissions).
