At a time when global supply chains are in flux, Amrit Acharya, the founder and chief executive of Zetwerk, believes India stands as the world’s only viable alternative to China in manufacturing. Speaking at the Storyboard18 Global Pioneer Summit on Friday, Acharya acknowledged the formidable challenge of competing with China but expressed confidence that India can succeed by focusing on quality, speed, and cost efficiency.
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“It’s an uphill battle, but if we don’t take action today, we may miss the opportunity,” Acharya said. “This is the optimal time for the manufacturing industry.”
Zetwerk, a seven-year-old manufacturing company, collaborates with partners across key sectors, including renewable energy, electronics, and aerospace. Among its notable projects, Acharya highlighted Zetwerk’s involvement in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train initiative.
“We are manufacturing key girders that will support the bullet train’s passage,” he said, adding that the company has built India’s largest girder—an impressive 130 meters in length—using entirely domestically produced components.
As technological advancements reshape the manufacturing landscape, Zetwerk has focused on innovation to enhance efficiency. Acharya noted that the company has streamlined its shipping code, cutting software development and deployment times by as much as 50 percent, a move that has significantly boosted productivity.
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Additionally, in an industry reliant on extensive coordination, Zetwerk is exploring the use of digital agents to automate transactional phone calls, reducing inefficiencies. The company has also developed software that allows customers to track cargo in real-time, further optimizing logistics.
On the role of government incentives, Acharya offered a pragmatic view. While India’s Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme has attracted investments, he cautioned against over-reliance on such measures.
“One cannot build a sustainable business solely dependent on government policy because policies inevitably have a sunset,” he said.
Zetwerk, he emphasized, has built its business model independently of these incentives. “Our objective is to ensure that our economic fundamentals remain strong, regardless of external support.”
As India continues to position itself as a global manufacturing hub, Acharya’s vision highlights the country’s potential to carve out a competitive edge in an evolving global economy.
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More about the Storyboard18 Global Pioneers Summit
The Global Pioneers Summit is a celebration and exploration of the transformative potential of creativity, empowering individuals and businesses to think differently, act boldly, and craft a future that resonates with purpose and vision. Creativity is not just about artistic expression — it is a force for solving real-world problems, innovating products, and creating connections in ways that traditional methods cannot. And there are pioneers behind this shift, who have dared to think different.
The Global Pioneers Summit stands as a premier celebration of the visionary forces propelling businesses forward, spotlighting the global brands emerging from India — an ever-growing hub of creativity and innovation on the world stage. From groundbreaking innovations to impactful storytelling, key decision-makers and innovators from business, marketing, advertising, tech, and academia exchange insights, build connections, and draw inspiration from some of the most compelling work driving industries forward globally.
In today’s rapidly evolving world, creativity can be a powerful force to drive business growth, shape industries, and influence societal behavior, culture, and values. Storyboard18 Global Pioneers Summit puts the spotlight on the true purpose and power of creativity and the pioneers leading the way.
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