Industry must move beyond traditional infrastructure planning and actively leverage the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan to strengthen manufacturing competitiveness and build more efficient, resilient supply chains, said Shri Rajeev Singh Thakur, Programme Director, NITI Aayog, while addressing the inaugural session of the 3rd Edition of CII Manufacturing Conclave held on 20 August 2026 on the theme “The India Growth Story: Building Manufacturing Resilience.” He highlighted that the PM GatiShakti platform, with nearly 1,600 GIS-based layers covering railways, roads, ports, airports, waterways and other critical infrastructure, can enable industry to make more informed decisions on industrial locations, logistics networks and supply-chain planning. He urged businesses to look beyond existing connectivity and leverage upcoming infrastructure projects to improve the linkages between manufacturing facilities, industrial clusters, markets and critical resources.
Shri Thakur noted that significant investments in infrastructure, including roads, railways, ports, industrial corridors and smart cities, are already creating a stronger foundation for manufacturing-led growth. He emphasized that the opportunity now lies in industry making greater use of these assets, while also benefiting from ongoing reforms aimed at reducing compliance burdens and improving the ease of doing business. He underlined the importance of translating improved infrastructure and logistics into greater competitiveness, stronger supply chains and increased private investment in manufacturing.
Speaking at the Conclave, Shri Yashvir Singh, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, said that the theme of the Conclave was particularly timely as India seeks to realize its vision of becoming a developed economy by 2047. He highlighted the growing strain on the global trading system, increasing geopolitical fragmentation and concentration of critical manufacturing and supply chains, noting that trade is increasingly becoming an instrument of economic and geopolitical strategy.
Shri Singh emphasized that India’s new generation of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) should be viewed not merely as instruments for tariff reduction, but as strategic platforms for expanding market access, attracting investment, enabling technology flows, diversifying supply chains and deepening India’s participation in global value chains. He called upon industry to translate these agreements into concrete commercial outcomes and outlined five strategic obligations for Indian industry: actively invest in FTA utilization and understand rules of origin and market requirements; move up the value chain and build globally competitive capabilities; strengthen supply-chain resilience by mapping and diversifying sourcing networks; actively diversify export markets; and engage more closely on standards and contribute to global standard-setting.
Mr Sanjay Jayavarthanavelu, Chairman, CII Manufacturing Council and CEO & Managing Director, LMW Limited, speaking on the broader manufacturing outlook, said that the theme of the Conclave was particularly relevant as India moves towards a US$7 trillion economy by 2030 and advances its vision of a developed India by 2047. He underlined the central role of manufacturing in driving investment, employment, exports, domestic value addition and India's integration into global value chains. With a strong domestic market, skilled talent, improving infrastructure and policy support, he said India is well positioned to emerge as a trusted global manufacturing and supply-chain hub. He also highlighted the importance of technology adoption, Industry 4.0, supply-chain diversification and stronger participation of MSMEs in building a resilient and globally competitive manufacturing ecosystem.
In his concluding remarks, Mr Narayan Sethuramon, Chairman, CII Trade Policy Council and Vice Chairman, Sanmar Matrix Metals Ltd, emphasized that India is at a significant moment of opportunity, with reforms, infrastructure investments, trade agreements and a strengthening domestic ecosystem creating favourable conditions for manufacturing growth. He called upon Indian industry to seize this time-bound opportunity and pursue an ambitious growth trajectory, including significantly increasing its presence in global markets.
The inaugural session also witnessed the release of the report “Champions & Challengers: A Trade Competitiveness Assessment of India’s Strategic Manufacturing Sectors.” The report examines five strategic manufacturing sectors—Bearings, Hearables & Wearables, Tyres, Titanium and Footwear—and the different stages of competitiveness they represent. It highlights where India has emerged as a strong global player, where promising capabilities are taking shape, and where gaps need to be addressed to unlock the next phase of manufacturing growth. Overall, the report brings together these sectoral stories to identify broader opportunities for building a more competitive, resilient and globally integrated manufacturing base in India.
20th August, 2026
New Delhi