The 14th National Manufacturing Conclave and MSME Excellence Awards held at Taj Vivanta, Kolkata on March 16th, 2024, brought together esteemed speakers and industry leaders to explore avenues for transforming Bengal into India's global business hub.

Inaugural Session: Turning Bengal into India’s Global Business Hub

Mr. Sanjay Behera, Chairperson, Manufacturing and MSME Committee, BCC&I; Chief Sales Manager – Tata Steel Ltd, initiated the session with a thought-provoking theme address. He emphasized the need for concerted efforts from all stakeholders to leverage Bengal's potential and position it as a global business destination.

Following this, Mr. Gautam Ray, President, BCC&I; President- Corporate, RPSG Group, extended a warm welcome to all attendees, highlighting the significance of the conclave in fostering collaboration and innovation.

Dr. Sunil Kumar Sharma, IRSME, Executive Director, QA (Mechanical) RDSO & Director (Production, Additional Charge) Braithwaite & Co. Ltd, shed light on the abundant opportunities available to MSMEs in the Indian Railways industry. He emphasized the importance of quality assurance and reliability in establishing long-term partnerships with railways.

Mr. Niraj Gupta, DGM & RM - ER, ECGC Limited, delved into the realm of export credit guarantee opportunities for Indian exporters, elucidating strategies to mitigate risks and capitalize on international trade avenues.

Mr. Gaurav Mathur, CEO, Filix Consulting Pvt Ltd, captivated the audience with insights into harnessing digital transformation. He emphasized the pivotal role of technology in enhancing operational efficiency and competitiveness in the global market.

Session: Capability Enhancement through Upskilling, System and Process Improvement

Moderated by Indranil Dutta, CEO, Datre Corporation, this session focused on enhancing capabilities through upskilling, system, and process improvement. 

Dr. Sushma Verma, Addl Director – DQR&S (Directorate of Quality, Reliability & Safety), DRDO, elaborated on the significance of quality and reliability in driving innovation and sustainability.

Mr. Chittaranjan Maitra, Consultant, ZED Certification, provided insights into the process of obtaining ZED certification and its implications for MSMEs.

Representative from Tata Strive, Tata Community Initiatives Trust, shared success stories of skill development initiatives aimed at empowering youth and fostering entrepreneurship.

Prof Pradip Kumar Roy, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, IIT Kharagpur, highlighted the role of academia-industry collaboration in developing skilled manpower to meet industry demands.

Panel Discussion: New Trends, Challenges, and Changing Customers’ Expectations in Construction and Building Materials

Moderated by Mr. Sanjay Behera, Chief Sales Manager, Tata Steel Ltd, this panel discussion explored emerging trends and challenges in the construction and building materials sector. Panelists engaged in a lively discussion on adapting to evolving customer expectations, sustainability concerns, and technological advancements.

Panelists 

• Mr. Navarun Sen, President, Century Plyboards India Ltd. 
• Mr. Biswajit Manasingh, Regional Head-Sales & Operation, UltraTech Cement 
• Ms. Satabdi Mondal, Cluster B&I Head, Ambuja Cement Ltd, ACC Ltd. 
• Mr. Sambuddha Biswas, Head of Construction, UAL Industries Ltd.

Session: Digital Automation through AI, Robotics, and Cloud-Computing for Productivity Enhancement

Moderated by Mr. P K Wilson Purty, Chief Marketing, Tata Steel Ltd, this session delved into the transformative potential of digital automation. Panelists discussed practical applications of AI, robotics, and cloud-computing in enhancing productivity and competitiveness.

Panelists:

• Mr. Prasun Nandy, Partner, PwC 
• Mr. Gaurav Mathur, CEO, Filix Consulting Pvt Ltd

Session: Importance of Sustainability in Manufacturing Industry (Net Zero & CBAM)

Speakers emphasized the imperative of sustainability in the manufacturing industry. Ms. Adity Ganguly, Head Product Sustainability, Tata Steel Ltd, outlined strategies for achieving net-zero emissions and navigating the challenges of carbon border adjustment mechanisms.

Mr. Soumya Pradhan and Mr. Ashok Zutshi, representatives from Meensou India Pvt. Ltd, shared their company's sustainability initiatives and highlighted the business case for integrating environmental considerations into manufacturing practices.

Award Ceremony

The award ceremony recognized over 20 MSMEs for their outstanding contributions to the sector. Max Paints was honored with the BCC&I - TATA TISCON - MSME Of The Year Award 2023-24 - Manufacturing. Additionally, Sconto (Unicornfinity Technologies Pvt Ltd), Ramaesis Rpl Perfect Pause, and Das Roto Print were declared winners of the BCC&I - Filix - MSME Of The Year Award 2023-24 - Service category.

The conclave concluded on a note of optimism, with attendees inspired to embrace innovation, collaboration, and sustainability in driving the growth of the manufacturing and MSME sector.