Venu Menon
Wellington, March 30,2024
Make in India, the scheme that aims to propel India towards the goal of becoming a global manufacturing hub, was the single overarching theme of a well-attended event hosted by the Indian High Commission at its premises in Wellington on March 28.
Launched by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September 2014, the Make in India initiative aims to transform India into a “global design and manufacturing hub,” as per the Make in India website.
As High Commissioner of India to New Zealand Neeta Bhushan explained while welcoming New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay, the scheme has “helped India become a manufacturing hub for the automotive sector, FMCG [fast moving consumer goods] sector, apparel and leather industries, as well as the defence sector.”
India-NZ partnership
Trade Minister McClay, who delivered the keynote address, pointed to the opportunity presented by the Make in India initiative to “promote our business partnership.”
The minister noted the “great prospects of New Zealand businesses to align with Make in India and build their relationship and, as a result, strengthen the benefits for both sides.”
McClay identified the key sectors of engagement for New Zealand companies, such as aviation, food and beverage, manufacturing, as well as information technology and tech services.
“At a business-to-business level, New Zealand companies are supporting Make in India goals in a growing number of sectors and states,” he noted.
Referencing his visit to India last year, the minister said he was “astounded by the great transformation that I saw, not only in the economy, but in infrastructure.”
He described the relationship with India as “a two-way street,” and added that “many more New Zealanders should jump on a plane and go to India and see one of the largest democracies, with a history [that is] so much longer than New Zealand’s, and together form those friendships that make it easier for governments.”
Red tape to red carpet
Earlier, addressing the gathering of diaspora members and local dignitaries, including former Governor General of New Zealand Sir Anand Satyanand, High Commissioner Bhushan acknowledged the India New Zealand Business Council (INZBC) and its Wellington chapter head Pushpa Wood for “supporting and partnering the High Commission in holding the event.”
Make In India, which seeks to make the country self-reliant as well as a global manufacturing hub, is best summed up by the slogan: “From red tape to red carpet.” It symbolises the ease of doing business, which is reflected in India’s improved standing in current World Bank rankings, High Commissioner Bhushan observed.
Over 1,500 rules and regulations were scrapped in order to simplify the procedures, with a “single-window clearance system” put in place across sectors, leading to higher foreign direct investment inflows into India, Covid-19 notwithstanding.
In addition, the patents regime has also been simplified. “India is now on the same level as Japan and the United States in according patents,” High Commissioner Bhushan noted, adding: “These changes have led to a conducive environment for manufacturing.”
She said India was no longer “just a big market but also a nation that is meeting the global needs for goods and services.”
Launch pad for global brands
Goods produced in India were now finding their way to world markets. High Commissioner Bhushan highlighted the success story of I-phones manufactured in India by global brands such as Apple, Samsung and the Tata Group. In addition, high-profile global brands such as Dell, HP and Lenovo have “announced a huge expansion of manufacturing in India” under the special incentives offered by the Government of India.
The automobile sector was also riding the crest of the Make In India wave, with global entities such as Suzuki and Honda joining the ranks of home-grown companies Mahindra, Hero and Bajaj in exporting their products to world markets from India.
From pharmaceuticals to electricals, India was now attracting highly visible global brands to set up their manufacturing units in India.
Global giants were seeing India as a cost-effective investment destination that offered the twin advantages of a large, vibrant domestic market as well as a platform to launch their products globally.
Defence sector
High Commissioner Bhushan noted that the defence sector had emerged as a prime beneficiary of the Make In India scheme. “We are seeing cruise missiles, artillery, pistol parts and so on being exported in a big way to countries around the world.”
Bilateral relations
High Commissioner Bhushan wrapped up by recalling the recent visits to India by New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Trade Minister McClay which “led to positive discussions on a variety of subjects and topics, including connectivity, technical collaborations in the agro, horticulture and dairy sectors, education and the strengthening of people-to-people ties.”
She referenced the efforts made by the High Commission of India to reach out to “our businesses and our community in all parts of New Zealand.”
Manoj K Sahu, Second Secretary (Political) and Commercial Representative of the High Commission of India in Wellington, highlighted the success of QualityNZ, a beneficiary of the Make In India initiative. The India-based company uses “famous cricketing figures as brand ambassadors and forming strategic partnerships for efficient supply chains.” The company supplies high quality New Zealand meat to top hotels, airlines, e-commerce sites, and stores.
QualityNZ targets markets in the Middle East, Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka.
Sahu added: “If QualityNZ can do it then other companies in New Zealand can also do it.”
Up next, Brett O’Riley, Chief Executive of Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA), noted India “has always been an advanced manufacturer.” He cited the spinning wheel as the symbol of Indian manufacturing in the 20th Century.
“In the 21st Century India is spinning different materials. It’s spinning silicon, it’s spinning steel, it’s spinning aluminium, to produce some of the greatest products in the world,” O’Riley pointed out.
He said the Indian diaspora represented a window of understanding into the complex cultural diversity of India. The IT potential of India needed to be tapped by New Zealand, O’Riley observed.
The two-hour Make In India awareness building session was supported by video presentations.
Venu Menon is an Indian Newslink reporter based in Wellington
