Empowering Make in India Insights from the India Live 2023 Summit The ‘India Live 2023’ Summit, organized by Entrepreneur Media in Mumbai, brought together key players in the manufacturing sector for a panel discussion titled ‘The Made in India Big Promise.’ The insightful dialogue, moderated by Punita Sabharwal, Deputy Editor of Entrepreneur India, shed light on the Government of India’s Make in India initiative, emphasizing the sector’s critical role, challenges, and the collaborative steps required for its acceleration.

India’s manufacturing sector currently contributes to approximately 16-17% of the GDP and employs nearly 20% of the country’s workforce. The Make in India campaign, launched by the government, aims to transform the nation into a global manufacturing hub. However, its success hinges on widespread support from companies across diverse industries.

Pradeep Krishnakumar, Co-founder and COO of Zouk, highlighted the evolution of manufacturing from an unorganized to an organized sector. Recognizing the significance of quality, timely delivery, and payment terms, Krishnakumar emphasized the power of manufacturing for consumer brands. He urged companies to aspire to deliver world-class products, aligning with the expectations of Indian consumers.

Abheet Dwivedi, VP (Infra, construction & PSU) at Moglix, stressed the need to aim higher and move beyond promoting SMEs for scale. Dwivedi underscored the importance of achieving a substantial volume of exports, encouraging companies to focus on upholding the highest standards and eliminating improvisation (jugaad). He acknowledged the government’s efforts and called for a collective response from all stakeholders.

Darshan Ghodawat, CEO and Managing Director of AVA Global Logistics LLP, expressed enthusiasm for the Make in India initiative but highlighted the need for proactive measures. Ghodawat emphasized that without a significant boost in manufacturing, employment generation would remain a challenge. He called for effective implementation of the initiative and a shift in the manufacturing paradigm.

Satish Shukla, Co-Founder of Addverb, emphasized the role of robotics and automation in enhancing global competitiveness and scaling up exports. Shukla asserted that to achieve rapid scalability, adopting robotics and automation is imperative. He dispelled the notion that India can become a manufacturing hub solely through currency or labor arbitrage, emphasizing the need for reliability, quality, and efficiency through automation.

In conclusion, the panelists at the ‘India Live 2023’ Summit underscored the pivotal role of manufacturing in India’s economic landscape. As the nation strives to become a global manufacturing powerhouse, collaborative efforts, higher aspirations, and the integration of advanced technologies like robotics and automation are deemed crucial for sustained success in the ‘Make in India’ journey.