Industry Leaders Push for More FTAs and Sustainability to Boost Indian Manufacturing

New Delhi, Aug 20 (KNN) At the 14th Massmerize conference organised by FICCI—focusing on “Make in India: Powering the Future of FMCG, Retail and E-Commerce”—prominent business figures urged the Indian government to broaden its network of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and prioritise sustainability to elevate India into a global manufacturing hub.

Mayank Mohan, CEO and Owner of Mohanlal Sons, emphasised how countries like Bangladesh and Vietnam outpace India in apparel and textile exports.

He highlighted that broader FTAs with key markets such as the UK and the US would offer cost advantages and preferential access, empowering India to close this export gap.

Aseem Kaushik, Country Managing Director of L’Oréal India, spotlighted the company’s efforts to reduce environmental impact. All fragrances now come in refillable bottles, cutting use of glass, metal, and plastic by nearly 50%.

Additionally, skincare products are shifting to recyclable 1-litre pouches. Kaushik added that L’Oréal India’s plants are already powered entirely by renewable energy and operate under plastic-neutral and soon water-neutral models at their Baddi facility.

Moderated by Deloitte’s Goldie Dhama, the session also featured leaders from Marico, ChrysCapital, Piramal Critical Care, and Kenvue India.

They collectively underscored that growing domestic consumption coupled with global shifts in supply chains presents a crucial opportunity.

Aligning FTAs with sustainable manufacturing incentives—such as expanding the PLI (Production-Linked Incentive) scheme to eco-friendly sectors—will help build globally competitive industries and enhance both exports and domestic value creation.

(KNN Bureau)