India's manufacturing ecosystem is at a defining moment. As the country accelerates its journey toward becoming a developed nation by 2047, industry leaders, policymakers, innovators, and entrepreneurs are increasingly focusing on collaboration, capability building, and global competitiveness.
Against this backdrop, the fourth edition of the Festival of Manufacturing 2026, organised by ET Now Machinist and the Times Group, brought together some of the most influential voices in the sector at Feathers Hotel in Chennai on March 6. The event, themed "Viksit Bharat 2047: Building the Future Through Manufacturing," served as a platform to celebrate the achievements of the industry while also discussing the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
From strategic leadership discussions and collaborative growth conversations to insights on MSMEs and ecosystem development, the day-long festival showcased the collective ambition of Indian manufacturing to move from scale to leadership on the global stage.
Partners powering the Festival of Manufacturing
The Festival of Manufacturing 2026 was made possible through the strong support of industry partners who continue to play a vital role in strengthening India's industrial ecosystem. The event was co-powered by Ace Micromatic Group, while igus India joined as the Motion Plastics Partner. Pro-Arc Welding & Cutting Systems and Volvo supported the event as Gold Partners, highlighting their continued commitment to advancing manufacturing technologies and capabilities in India. The event was further strengthened by Zeiss India as the Metrology Partner and Marposs as the Quality Partner, reflecting the growing importance of precision, measurement, and quality assurance in modern manufacturing.
Supporting partners including Kennametal, Timken, KSH Infra, and Sairam Institutions contributed to the event's success, alongside TERADYNE Robotics as the Robotics Partner, reinforcing the role of automation and robotics in the future of industry. The festival also received valuable support from association partners IACC, AIEMA, and JITO Chennai, while ET Now Machinist and ET Now Polymers served as media partners and ET NOW joined as the television partner. Bennett University supported the initiative as the education partner, underlining the importance of academia-industry collaboration in preparing the next generation of manufacturing professionals.
Setting the tone for a transformative journey
The fourth edition of the Festival of Manufacturing opened on an inspiring note, bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators to discuss the future of India's manufacturing ecosystem. The official inauguration was marked by the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by industry leaders including T K Ramesh, Managing Director, Ace Designers Limited; Kamal Bali, President and Managing Director, Volvo Group India; Dr Kanakasabapathi Subramanian, Senior Vice President, Ashok Leyland; Ajesh Saklecha, Director, Ozone Motors; and Bipul Chandra, Managing Director, Ducati India Pvt Ltd.
The traditional ceremony symbolised the collective commitment of industry stakeholders to strengthen India's industrial foundation and accelerate innovation-driven growth.
Manufacturing, remains the backbone of India's development story, driving job creation, innovation, and technological advancement.
Celebrating the people behind manufacturing
Delivering the opening remarks, Amit Shanbaug, Editor – ET Now Machinist and ET Now Polymers, reflected on the inspiration behind the Festival of Manufacturing platform.
He noted that while manufacturing has powered India's economic growth for decades, the stories of the people behind the machines often remain untold. Over the past year, the ET Now Machinist team had visited factories across the country, witnessing celebrations on shop floors during festivals such as Diwali, Holi, and Women's Day.
These experiences reinforced a powerful insight: manufacturing is not just about machines and output, it is about people, passion, and purpose. The festival, therefore, was conceptualised as a platform to recognise the individuals, plants, and organisations that continue to drive India's manufacturing transformation.
The theme "Viksit Bharat 2047: Building the Future Through Manufacturing" reflects the growing consensus that manufacturing will play a central role in India's journey toward becoming a developed economy.
Leadership and strategic vision take centre stage
The first major discussion of the day focused on Leadership and Strategic Vision for India's Manufacturing Growth, bringing together leaders who are actively shaping the industry's future.
Moderated by Avinash Gupta, Managing Director and CEO – India, Dun & Bradstreet, the panel featured an impressive lineup of industry leaders including:
- Bipul Chandra, Managing Director, Ducati India
- Vijaykrishnan Venkatesan, Managing Director, Kennametal India
- T K Ramesh, Managing Director, Ace Designers Limited
- Prashanth Doreswamy, President and CEO, Continental India
- Shailesh Hazela, CEO and Managing Director, Stellantis
- Kamal Bali, President and Managing Director, Volvo Group India
- Dr Kanakasabapathi Subramanian, Senior Vice President, Ashok Leyland
- Sunil Koparkar, Managing Director, IAC Group
The discussion centred on the evolution of India's manufacturing competitiveness. Panellists emphasised that the country is gradually moving beyond cost advantages to focus on capability-driven growth.
Industry leaders also spoke about the changing role of CEOs, who are increasingly required to act as ecosystem orchestrators bringing together suppliers, partners, technology providers, and talent to build resilient and globally competitive manufacturing networks.
Technology adoption, sustainability integration, and the development of skilled talent were highlighted as critical pillars for long-term growth.
Collaboration as the new growth engine
The second panel discussion brought together leaders who have successfully leveraged collaboration to scale capabilities and unlock new market opportunities. Titled "Collaborative Growth: Partnerships, Capabilities, and Market Expansion," the session explored how strategic partnerships can act as catalysts for innovation and growth across industries.
Moderated by Ajesh Saklecha, Director, Ozone Motors, the panel featured Thej Kumar, Vice President – Operations, Toyoda Gosei South India Pvt Ltd; Ajitkumar Nair, Managing Director, Pro-Arc Welding & Cutting Systems; Shilpashree Muniswamappa, Director – ESG & Communications, Colgate-Palmolive (India) Ltd; Ramanathan V, President – Automotive Business Head, Lucas TVS; Cosimo Cereda, Managing Director, Marposs India Pvt Ltd; Sarvadnya Kulkarni, CEO, General Instruments Consortium; Purushothaman M, CEO, Indo Tech Transformers Limited; and Balbir Dhiman, COO, CG Power & Industrial Solutions.
The panel highlighted how collaboration across supply chains, technology providers, and manufacturing partners is increasingly enabling organisations to build stronger capabilities, co-create solutions, and enter new markets with greater agility.
MSMEs: the backbone of India's manufacturing ambition
The third panel turned the spotlight on micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs)—widely recognised as the backbone of India's industrial ecosystem. The discussion focused on how MSMEs can strengthen their capabilities, integrate into global supply chains, and scale competitively.
Moderated by P Kaniappan, Head – MSME Vertical, Indian Foundation for Quality Management, the panel featured Kajinder Srivastava, Co-founder & Director, Danphe Pvt Ltd; Vaibhav Jha, Deputy CEO, Ester Industries Limited; Venkatesh Mudragalla, Co-founder & COO, Jeh Aerospace; V Rajamohan, Operations Head – Blade Manufacturing, Envision Energy India; Arathi K Parigi, Managing Director, Neuton Auto Pvt Ltd; Sougandh K M, Business Director – South Asia, Universal Robots & Mobile Industrial Robots; Sravan Apanna, Chief Executive, iGo Mobility; and Arun Rathod, Chief Transformation Officer, Flosil Group of Companies.
The session explored how MSMEs can leverage digital technologies, precision manufacturing capabilities, and strategic partnerships with OEMs to compete globally while strengthening India's industrial supply chains.
Lessons from the Mumbai Dabbawallas
One of the most engaging segments of the event was a case study presented by Dr Pawan Agrawal, an internationally recognised TEDx speaker and management thinker.
Dr Agrawal explored the operational excellence of the Mumbai Dabbawalla network, a logistics system that has been delivering home-cooked meals across the city for over a century with remarkable accuracy.
Despite operating without sophisticated technology, the Dabbawalla system demonstrates the power of disciplined processes, human coordination, and simple yet effective coding systems.
Dr Agrawal drew parallels between the Dabbawalla model and modern manufacturing supply chains, emphasising that clarity, accountability, and teamwork remain fundamental to operational success.
Building stronger manufacturing ecosystems
The final panel of the day focused on the broader ecosystem that supports manufacturing growth, including policy frameworks, standards, and skill development initiatives. Titled "Ecosystem Strengthening: Policy, Standards and Skill Development," the discussion examined how public–private collaboration can accelerate India's journey toward becoming a global manufacturing powerhouse.
Moderated by Sangharakshaka V P, CEO, Aerospace and Aviation Sector Skill Council, the panel featured Savitha Jagadeesan, Chairperson, CII Indian Women Network – Tamil Nadu; Rajesh Chandan, Chairman, Latin American & Caribbean Trade Council; P Kasivishwanathan, Managing Director, TN AutoSkills; Mahesh V, Executive Director – Manufacturing Operations, NCR Atleos; W Pragadhish, Director – Ecosystems (Tamil Nadu); and Ankit Das, Associate Director, ANJ Group.
The panel emphasised the importance of forward-looking policies, globally aligned standards, and a skilled workforce in enabling India's manufacturing sector to scale sustainably and compete internationally.
Recognising the plants shaping the future
A key highlight of the festival was the Promising Plants of the Future felicitation ceremony.
These awards recognised manufacturing facilities that are demonstrating operational excellence while building capabilities for future growth.
Among the organisations honoured were General Instruments Consortium, IAC, Jeh Aerospace, Colgate-Palmolive India, Hitachi Energy, Toyoda Gosei, Sieger Global, CG Power & Industrial Solutions, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, Raghu Vamsi Group, Jyoti Global Plast, Belrise Industries, Ester Industries, RSB Global, Skyline Herbals, Pro-Arc Welding & Cutting Systems, Timken, and Autotech Industries.
These plants represent the diversity and strength of India's manufacturing sector from automotive and aerospace to specialty materials and precision engineering.
Honouring the champions behind the success
The festival also recognised individuals who have played a significant role in driving manufacturing excellence through the Champions of Manufacturing awards.
Leaders and professionals from organisations such as General Instruments Consortium, IAC, Hitachi Energy, Toyoda Gosei, Colgate-Palmolive India, Jeh Aerospace, CG Power & Industrial Solutions, Envision Energy, Raghu Vamsi Group, Belrise Industries, Ester Industries, Timken, and Skyline Herbals were honoured for their leadership and contributions.
These individuals exemplify the dedication, innovation, and leadership that continue to drive India's manufacturing transformation.
Looking ahead to India's manufacturing future
As the festival concluded, speakers and participants reflected on the broader significance of the discussions that had taken place throughout the day.
India's manufacturing journey is entering a new phase—one defined not only by scale but also by capability, innovation, and global integration.
Platforms such as the Festival of Manufacturing play an important role in bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators to exchange ideas and shape the future of the sector.
As India moves closer to its vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, the collective efforts of manufacturers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers will be essential in building a resilient and globally competitive industrial ecosystem.
The fourth edition of the Festival of Manufacturing served as a powerful reminder that the future of Indian manufacturing will not be built by individual organisations alone, but through collaboration, shared ambition, and a commitment to excellence across the entire ecosystem.
