Global manufacturing to shift in India's favour: N Chandrasekaran

MUMBAI: Global supply chains are shifting in the favour of India as more weightage is given to resilience over efficiency, according to Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran. He reiterated that the Tata Group will create five lakh manufacturing jobs in the next five years in facilities that produce batteries, semiconductors, electric vehicles, solar equipment, and other critical hardware.

In an year-end letter to employees, Chandrasekaran said that manufacturing has the potential to transform India's economy. "What might have seemed like a short-term reaction to the pandemic has proved much more enduring. Amid relentless geopolitical instability, the equation has tilted firmly toward resilience - and India, with our vast talent pool and growing manufacturing capacity - is poised to benefit," he said.

Observing that the great trends of the age are in favour of India, Chandrasekaran said that he looks ahead to 2025 with optimism. "Though it is difficult to begin a new year without Mr (Ratan) Tata, there is comfort in knowing that the business he devoted his life to continues to thrive. Big strategic bets, made with his encouragement, are bearing fruit, particularly in hi-tech industries and manufacturing where our footprint continues to expand," he said.

In the letter, he also said that over seven new manufacturing facilities were initiated - including India's first semiconductor fab in Dholera, Gujarat, and a semiconductor OSAT plant in Assam. Other facilities include an electronics assembly plant in Karnataka, an automotive plant in Tamil Nadu, and new MRO facilities in Bengaluru. Battery manufacturing factories were also launched in Gujarat and Somerset, UK, alongside solar module production in Tamil Nadu.

He highlighted key achievements across the group including TCS and Tejas Networks delivering the first indigenous 4G telecom stack for BSNL and advancing to 5G. He also mentioned Air India successfully integrating four airlines to form one cohesive airline group serving Indian and global markets. The Taj brand, part of Indian Hotels, retained its status as the world's strongest hotel brand, he said.