India’s manufacturing sector must move beyond short-term shocks and turn its challenges into opportunities through agility, innovation, and global partnerships. This was the clear message from business leaders and policymakers at the CII Visionary Leaders for Manufacturing (VLFM) Learning Convention and Graduation Ceremony held in Mumbai.

Jamshyd N. Godrej, Chairman of the CII Naoroji Godrej Centre of Manufacturing Excellence and CMD, Godrej Enterprises Group, described the VLFM initiative as a national mission. “VLFM equips leaders to transform India into a global manufacturing powerhouse. India faces many challenges, and these are the challenges we must learn to overcome,” he said.

R. Mukundan, President Designate, CII and MD & CEO of Tata Chemicals, called for agility in adapting to enduring growth drivers. “Geopolitics may be episodic, but sustainability, technology, AI, and customer focus are permanent,” he noted.

Dr. Naushad Forbes, Past President, CII and Co-Chairman, Forbes Marshall, highlighted India’s weak R&D base. “Indian industry invests just 0.3% of GDP in in-house R&D compared to a global average of 1.5%. Unless our largest firms embrace innovation as the growth engine, we won’t see transformational impact,” he cautioned.

Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII, said competitiveness must be India’s immediate focus. “To absorb shocks and rise as a global manufacturing leader, India must prioritise high-value sectors, diversify supply chains, and empower states to make doing business easier,” he asserted.

From an international perspective, TAKEUCHI Takuro, Chief Representative, JICA India, spoke of Indo-Japanese complementarities. “Because we are different, we can create new things. India’s digital strength and Japan’s manufacturing expertise are complementary – together, we can unlock enormous opportunities,” he said.

The discussion also stressed technology adoption and industrial safety. Leaders urged greater use of AI, automation, and logistics integration through Gati Shakti, while also underlining safety as a core value. Forbes warned that safety remains undervalued in India, while Takeuchi added: “Safety is a matter of respect for fellow workers and their families. Poor practice results in devastating loss.”

The CII–VLFM programme, launched in 2006 through a partnership between CII, JICA, the Government of Japan, and NMCC, has nurtured over 1,300 senior leaders, far exceeding its original target of 500. Now renamed Champions for Societal Manufacturing, the initiative continues to drive leadership and innovation while deepening India–Japan industrial collaboration.

As the ceremony concluded, one message stood out: India’s manufacturing destiny lies not in avoiding disruption but in embracing it — with agility, collaboration, and innovation lighting the way forward.