AUGUST, 202519Swati Salgaocar, Director, Vimson Group shared her views on the Indian Manufacturing Revolution at the 20th CII Manufacturing Summit 2025. She spoke about the country's changing industrial ecosystem and emphasized the need for scaling up manufacturing's GDP contribution, adopting emerging technologies such as AI and IoT, and embracing sustainability as a strategic priority. She emphasizes investments in R&D and skill building for enhancing long-term competitiveness and global leadership.INDUSTRY OPINIONMANUFACTURING MOMENTUM: FUELLING INDIA'S THIRD-ECONOMY LEAP India is at the crossroads of manufacturing, and the journey is not starting from scratch, but rather building from a point of strength. The future landscape looks different from what existed in the past. The nation is on track to become the world's third-largest economy, but for this to be genuinely achieved, manufacturing has to contribute much more than it currently does. Although significant progress has been achieved, the contribution now is only about 17% of GDP. The aim is to bring this up to 25%. However, this deficit should not be seen as a deficit in itself, but as an opportunity. Moreover, the greater change is not merely in what and how much is produced, but in how manufacturing is done in the future.Worldwide, there are three characterizing trends. First is the revolutionary effect of technologies reshaping the factory floor --AI, IoT, and automation are no longer a choice, but have become foundational. Second is that sustainability today is a competitive driver. Green manufacturing is no longer a boardroom imperative or a compliance issue; it is now a part of the business strategy. Finally, geopolitics is reshaping international supply chains, and India is becoming an increasingly serious alternative to traditional hubs. To lead, not simply follow, in this environment, swift and decisive change is needed, and technology is a core strategy. The future factory will be integrated, data-driven, and intelligent.Empowering Industry with AutomationInvestments in industrial automation by Indian manufacturers crossed 30%, according to the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). But the adoption is not even, mainly among Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which are the backbone of the industry. Capacity building and knowledge sharing have been the focus areas through various initiatives. Still, scale and ecosystem enablement remain the principal challenge. Connectivity, cloud infrastructure, and upskilled human capital are equally essential as the technology stack itself going forward.It is also fitting that the Western region has been the host for this summit. The region accounts for almost a quarter of India's GDP and generates 48% of the nation's merchandise exports. Gujarat is a leading exporter of engineering goods, chemicals, and petrochemicals. Maharashtra is a leading player in the automobile, electronics, and pharma sectors. Madhya Pradesh is also coming up as a major industrial corridor, especially in textiles and minerals. Goa, while Swati Salgaocar, Director, Vimson Group Swati Salgaocar, Director
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