Archive · 17 Dec 2025
India's Path to Manufacturing Greatness
Sridhar Vembu, the founder of Zoho, says India can become a top manufacturing country.
He thinks India needs to get really good at making complex things like special machines, alloys, and chemicals.
Countries like Japan and Germany are great at this, even though they have smaller populations and higher wages.
Another expert, Sanjeev Sanyal, says India should also grow its service industries.
Recently, reports show that both manufacturing and services in India are growing, but not as fast as before, and companies are managing with their current workers.
Sridhar Vembu believes India can become a great manufacturing nation by mastering capital goods and intricate processes.
Countries like Japan and Germany excel in manufacturing despite higher wages and smaller populations.
India needs to focus on areas like advanced machinery, specialty alloys, and specialty chemicals to compete globally.
Economist Sanjeev Sanyal emphasizes the need for India to expand both manufacturing and services for long-term growth.
Recent data shows a decline in manufacturing and services PMI, with the employment index at its lowest since early 2024.
- Who
- Sridhar Vembu, founder and chief scientist of Zoho Corporation, and economist Sanjeev Sanyal
- What
- Discussion on India's potential to become a great manufacturing nation and the need to master capital goods and intricate processes
- When
- December 2025
- Where
- India
- Why
- To achieve high income and strategic resilience, and to compete globally in manufacturing
- Speaker
- Sridhar Vembu, founder and chief scientist of Zoho Corporation
- Key Areas
- Capital goods, advanced machinery, specialty alloys, specialty chemicals, optical/imaging/medical equipment
- Comparative Nations
- Japan, Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands
- Economic Indicators
- Flash Manufacturing PMI: 55.7, Services PMI: 59.1
- Employment Index
- Lowest since early 2024, just above 50
- Economist's View
- Sanjeev Sanyal emphasizes need for both manufacturing and services
- Strategic Resilience Areas
- Agriculture, construction, electronics, pharmaceuticals, shipbuilding