Mumbai:
Make in India Week - a glitzy, week-long programme in Mumbai organised by Department Of Industrial Policy and Promotion to showcase India as a preferred manufacturing destination ends today.
The Prime Minister's push for manufacturing asking foreign businesses to make in India, the 'Make In India' week has been lauded by industrialists for laying the foundation of growth in the manufacturing sector.
"We have created a platform with about 18 states coming down to do their road shows. People from across the world are attending and for the states this is a great opportunity," DIPP Secretary Amitabh Kant told NDTV.
While the industry has largely welcomed the initiative some have also questioned the issues that have been cause of concern for them in the past.
"There is a huge impetus to the startups. There are so many startup companies in this area of design and innovation that will now produce for the larger manufacturers. And also this is great foreign exchange saving," said Rajshree Pathy, Chairman and Managing Director, Rajshree Sugars and Chemicals and Founder of India Design Forum.
"Today in the auto sector the large companies have their large design studios outside India -- in the UK and Italy. Now foreign exchange saving is a great saving for India," she added.
Government delegations from 49 nations and business delegations from 68 took part in this week-long event.
Uli Gwinner, President (Asia Pacific) for furniture giant Steelcase told NDTV: "Where we believe our life could be much better is the overall tax system. We believe companies who are producing locally should not be in a disadvantageous position. It's more cost effective for us to import products from China for our clients and we rather would prefer to produce in India."
"But from an economic stand point that does not make sense at the moment," he said.
On the success of the event, the government says pessimistic perceptions will be dispelled once the results are out.
"Indians love to be pessimistic. We want to bring a sense of optimism pride and ownership about what India has achieved. Please go around the world and see what India has achieved," said Mr Kant.