GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 18th Sept: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday urged Indian industry to shed any lingering hesitation in making fresh investments, expanding capacities, and scaling up production. She also pressed for closer collaboration between the private sector and the government on skilling India’s workforce, stressing that businesses should actively shape the agenda for growth.
Speaking at the Indian Foundation for Quality Management symposium in New Delhi, Sitharaman told industry leaders that the government’s reform push under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has created a conducive environment, and it was now up to businesses to step forward with confidence.
‘Industry Must Lead With Investments’
“I hope there is no more hesitation for industry to invest further, expand capacities, produce more in India, and what else is required by the government to do—spell them out,” Sitharaman said.
She reminded the audience that Prime Minister Modi has consistently driven reforms, both during his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister and now as the country’s leader. “He has never relented on reforms,” she noted, underscoring that the government remains committed to policy continuity and growth.
Bridging the Skilling Gap
The Finance Minister highlighted a persistent challenge facing the Indian job market: many graduates are not adequately prepared to meet the needs of large corporations and multinationals.
“Industry often spends six to eight months making new recruits job-ready. That preparation should already be part of what students learn before they apply for jobs,” she observed.
To address this, she laid out three key expectations from industry:
- Investment push – to expand and scale up production in India.
- Partnership in skilling – ensuring youth are employment-ready without long induction periods.
- Continuous engagement with government – not just around the Union Budget but throughout the year.
Collaboration Across Academia, Industry, and Government
Sitharaman called for stronger partnerships among academia, businesses, and students to embed quality management and skill development into every sector. She praised the two-day symposium for bringing diverse stakeholders together, adding that such deliberations help shape effective policymaking.
She also emphasized that the Union Budget has consistently allocated significant funds for skilling initiatives, not limited to short-term courses but aimed at sustainable workforce development through partnerships with reputed institutions.
“Skilling cannot begin and end with short-term courses; it has to be an ongoing effort,” Sitharaman said, adding that industry must take equal responsibility in building a talent pool ready for global competition.
Push for Quality and Competitiveness
The Finance Minister stressed that quality management should become central to every sector in India. With global supply chains shifting and India positioning itself as a hub for manufacturing and services, she said that quality and scale will determine competitiveness in the coming years.
By urging industry to invest boldly and collaborate on skilling, Sitharaman reinforced the government’s vision of making India not just the fastest-growing major economy, but also a hub for innovation, jobs, and global trade.
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