Speaking exclusively to CNBC-TV18, Mohindroo said India’s manufacturing sector is still in its infancy. “We’re at 2.8%, and our participation in global value chains (GVCs) is even smaller—just 1.8%. Compare that to electronics, where GVCs control 95% of global trade, and you’ll see how far behind we are,” Mohindroo.
Mohindroo doesn’t mince words when it comes to identifying the country’s weaknesses. “Our conglomerates grow horizontally, not globally. They expand into multiple sectors within India, but they don’t compete internationally. That’s not a recipe for excellence,” he explains. “And companies that come to India are here to serve the domestic market. They’re not exporting or integrating into global supply chains. That’s a problem.”
Another issue, he points out, is the low participation of women in the workforce. “This is one of our fundamental weaknesses. It’s a recipe for disaster if we don’t fix it.”
The India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICA) has been at the forefront of addressing these challenges and pushing for growth in India’s electronics and hardware sectors. Mohindroo describes the ICEA’s role as being an adviser, problem-solver and visionary.
Also read: A ₹1.5-lakh crore opportunity is waiting for India
“We’re like ICU—intensive care,” he says with a laugh. “India is such a challenging geography that we’re constantly sorting out issues, but at the same time, (ICEA is) driving change. We educate the government about possibilities, help them create a vision, and then work with the industry to make that vision a reality.”
One of the ICEA’s key focus areas is attracting global value chains to India. “The first step is to bring the big players—companies like Samsung, Apple, and HP—into India and get them to export. That’s how you build a competitive ecosystem,” Mohindroo explains. “When GVCs come, they force the supply chain to become competitive. Tier 2 and Tier 3 suppliers naturally blossom around them.”
The ICA is also working on Project 100, an initiative to bring 100 Indian companies into the electronics sector. “We need to expand our supply chain. Right now, our electronics industry is very small. There are a few players growing rapidly, but we need many more to fire on all cylinders,” he says.
Another critical area is building a design and technology ecosystem. “We need to create a robust ecosystem for semiconductor design, display technologies, and other foundational industries. This will reduce our dependency on imports and make us self-reliant,” Mohindroo adds.
That is not to say India is not growing. Quite the opposite. In 2014, 78% of mobile phones sold in India were imported. Today, the country has achieved a net export position of 25%, thanks primarily to Production-Linked Inventive (PLI) schemes that incentivise local production.
Also read: Microsoft has partnered with this AI startup to provide voice-based solutions
The Fight against Misinformation
While the ICEA focuses on manufacturing, it’s also playing a role in combating one of India’s most pressing social challenges: misinformation. The TruthTell Hackathon, organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, aims to develop tools to identify fake news, deep fakes, and misinformation.
According to the official website, TruthTell is a call to action to craft “the next generation of AI solutions to defend the truth. Empower media channels to deliver accurate news and equip viewers to discern facts from fiction. Together, let’s build a world where technology and truth coexist to create an informed, transparent, and credible media landscape”.
“Truth is very important,” Mohindroo says. “One of India’s fundamental weaknesses is the myths and misinformation that spread so easily. The hackathon’s goal is to create tools that can identify and combat these issues.”
The hackathon will leverage AI and other technologies to address integrity issues in information. “How do you identify fake news? How do you detect a deep fake? These are the questions we’re trying to answer,” he explains.
The initiative is also integrated with the WAVES Summit, which brings together art and creativity to inspire innovative solutions. “It’s not just about technology. It’s about combining creativity with technical expertise to create something meaningful,” Mohindroo says.
Also read: Microsoft has partnered with this AI startup to provide voice-based solutions
The Road Ahead
Despite current challenges, Mohindroo is optimistic about India’s future. He believes that with the right steps, India can transform its manufacturing sector and become a global player.
“Our immediate goal is to get GVCs wholeheartedly into India,” he says. “Once they’re here, they’ll naturally force the ecosystem to become competitive. That’s step one.”
Step two, he says, is educating Indian companies about the importance of global competitiveness. “We need to teach our conglomerates to go out and attack the world. Stop growing horizontally in India and start competing internationally. That’s how you become truly excellent,” he says.
For Mohindroo, the ultimate goal is to create Indian champion companies that dominate global markets. “We want to build companies that bring global GDP to India. That’s the longer-term, permanent objective,” he says.
India’s manufacturing journey is just beginning, and there’s a long road ahead. But with initiatives like the PLI scheme, Project 100, and the TruthTell Hackathon, the country is laying the groundwork for a brighter future.
“The work of the nation is very unfinished,” Mohindroo says. “But the areas we’re touching have seen unprecedented growth. We’re only getting started, and there’s so much more to do.”
With organisations like the ICA acting as the glue that holds it all together, India’s manufacturing sector is poised for transformation. As Mohindroo puts it, “It’s a marathon, not a sprint. But we’ll get there.”
Also read: India’s rapid digisation needs robust cybersecurity, says Zscaler’s Jay Chaudhary