India can emerge as global MCE hub with tech integration, says NITI Aayog member
New Delhi: India has the potential to establish a $25 billion plus export market in the Mining and Construction Equipment (MCE) sector by 2030, NITI Aayog Member Dr Vijay Kumar Saraswat said on Monday.
Speaking at the Mining and Construction Equipment Summit organised by the CII Eastern Region in New Delhi, Saraswat said that the roadmap depends on India's ability to integrate
advanced manufacturing
with intelligent systems design, indigenize critical components, and align with international performance and emission standards.
'A multi-pronged strategy is essential—one that includes long-term demand visibility through infrastructure pipelines, accelerated adoption of Industry 4.0 practices, public–private R&D investments, and the development of a unified testing, validation, and certification ecosystem,' he said.
The summit was held under the theme 'Redefining Boundaries, Innovating a Sustainable Future'.
Ambassador of Brazil to India and Bhutan, Kenneth Félix Haczynski da Nóbrega, said Brazil's resource abundance and green energy ecosystem, combined with India's technological capabilities and industrial scale, offer natural synergies for bilateral cooperation in strategic sectors.
'This partnership can unlock new opportunities for
sustainable development
, enhance energy security, fostering a stronger economic and environmental partnership between the two nations,' the Brazilian envoy said.
Ambassador of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Stella Nkomo, said Zimbabwe's rich mineral resources and India's technological expertise, advanced machinery, and capacity-building capabilities make for a compelling partnership.
She said that mining is at the forefront of Zimbabwe's economic growth strategy and highlighted the opportunity to establish strong industrial ties that can generate mutual benefits and drive economic development.
BEML Chairman and Managing Director Shantanu Roy said unmanned autonomous systems are now operational in sectors such as metro rail and mining. 'The paradigm shift brought about by automation in various sectors is evident in examples such as UTO-grade metro rail systems and AI-powered mining equipment,' he said.
CII Mining and Construction Equipment Division Chairman and TKIL Industries Managing Director and CEO Vivek Bhatia said India is well-positioned to reduce reliance on imports and boost domestic manufacturing by leveraging existing resources in steel, hydraulics, and electronics.
Coal India Ltd Director (Business Development) Debasish Nanda said the adoption of advanced technologies is essential for sustainable growth in mining. He said substantial investment in R&D is needed to create domestic underground mining equipment and improve extraction processes.
Eastern Regional Council Chairman of the CII Mining and Construction Equipment Division and BTL EPC Managing Director Ravi Todi said there is an urgent need for domestic capability building, indigenisation, and
public-private partnerships
.
Western Region Chairman of the CII MCE Division and Sandvik Mining & Rock Technology MD & CEO Manojit Haldar said the collaborative spirit at the summit has laid a strong foundation for advancing innovation, sustainability, and global partnerships in the sector.
A senior official from the Ministry of Heavy Industries said, 'The development of an export-oriented and standards-compliant MCE manufacturing ecosystem aligns with the government's vision of strengthening India's role in the global industrial value chain.'
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