Dr Anil Kakodkar,

Former Chairman,

Atomic Energy Commission

The power sector, in India and globally, has tremendous opportunities to become a critical player in low cost nuclear power equipment manufacturing. This was the view of some key experts at the 3rd Annual Session of Visionary Leaders for Manufacturing Programme (VLFM) organized by CII, in joint cooperation with National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council of India, and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Dr Anil Kakodkar, Former Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission, while addressing the Inaugural Session said, “The domestic requirement for nuclear power in India is estimated at 30,000 to 35,000 MW in coming 10 to 15 years and therefore the nuclear power equipment manufacturing industry has a great scope.”

He further added, “India has right capabilities for manufacturing such equipments at very low cost and these equipments consist of about 35 to 40% cost of nuclear power generation. Once the nuclear power sector proves its capabilities at home, the international market would be another platform with unlimited opportunities for the Indian manufacturers in coming years. The VLFM programme can play a very significant role in this journey.”

On Indian manufacturing sector, Prof Shoji Shiba, Chief Advisor, JICA Project/ VLFM, who is 77-year-old and pioneer in creating manufacturing leadership programme in India since 2002 said, “I have observed three transformations in Indian manufacturers. Their mindset from small scale operations has changed to looking at large scale productions, they are also more focused on improving and innovating manufacturing and the last is change in behaviourial mindset. From the focus of just running their day to day business, they have also started focusing on social issues and inclusive growth.”

Mr Masashi Mizukami, Minister (DCM), Embassy of Japan said, “Global economic slowdown had affected the programme last year but with overall recovery, the programme could be completed successfully in August this year. Programmes such as the VLFM which is an association with IITs and IIMs would certainly bring up the manufacturing sector in India.”

Mr Jamshyd Godrej, Chairman, CII VLFM Institute & Past President, CII said, “The initiatives like VLFM would raise the bar of quality and standards in strategic industries like, nuclear power components manufacturing. We have to scale up our initiatives and it is possible with the support of institutes like IIM and IIT in India.”