The Prime Minister is happy to note that Confederation of Indian Industry has started the visionary Leaders for Manufacturing between the Government of India and the Government of Japan. While providing impetus to the growth of manufacturing, this programme will also enhance the government’s skill building initiatives critical to developing competency in India’s manufacturing sector. The Prime Minister believes that Indian manufacturing must become competent for innovating new products that meet the need of this country and for exports.
The Prime Minister conveys his best wishes to CII for the success of this path breaking programme of National importance.
Kapil Sibal
Minister for Science & Technology & Earth Sciences
Government of India, New Delhi
Science, Technology & Innovation from the cornerstone for the new India. I congratulate Confederation of Indian Industry in launching the “Visionary Leaders for Manufacturing Programme” which will help build leaders with a holistic view of what it would take to optimize the synergies possible through our strengths in academia, scientists & the Indian industry.
With Indian manufacturing companies going global, Innovation leadership has become critical.
It is imperative for the manufacturing sector to imbibe a culture of innovation and integrate
it into their DNA. Global competition and cutting edge technology have made creating new products,
expanding markets and nurturing innovation the path that will lead to sustainable growth. However,
Innovation cannot always happen by chance and requires visionary leadership anda noble mind. It requires
leaders who have a holistic perspective to manufacturing and have deep insights into customer’s latent needs.
Having recognized the crunch for such leaders, CII launched the Visionary Leaders for Manufacturing Programme
(VLFM) in September 2007. Through the VLFM Programme CII endeavors to build a critical mass of 200-250 Visionary
Leaders who can lead the growth of India’s manufacturing sector. And, to institutionalize the implementation of
this programme at CII, we also put in place,
the VLFM Division to which all participating companies automatically become members.
VLFM Programme is a path breaking partnership between Industry, Academia and the Government. Through this programme
CII has partnered with IIT Kanpur, IIT Madras and IIM Calcutta to work towards the transformation of the manufacturing
sector. National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council and the Ministry of Human Resource Development have also
partnered with the industry to work towards a new, vibrant manufacturing sector.
The programme also forms a part of the Joint Declaration signed in December 2006 between Dr. Manmohan Singh, Honb’le Prime
Minister of India and Mr. Shinzo Abe, the then Prime Minister of Japan. This programme has received tremendous support from
Japan International Co operation Agency. On behalf of CII and the Indian industry I wish to place on record our sincere
gratitude for their contribution.
We at CII have always endeavored to and will continue to work towards building a competitive, vibrant India. Jamshyd Godrej
Chairman
CII VLFM Division
Consulate General of Japan at Kolkata. Mr. NORQ Motoyoshi's Message for Visionary Leaders for Manufacturing (VLFM): Opportunity A course at Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta on 16 th November, 2007
I am happy to learn the second spell of the week-long senior manager level Module 2 course on VLFM Program, is being successfully concluded at the campus of Indian Institute of Management Calcutta. Subsequent to its introductory session in Mumbai, I am glad to know that the one-week Module 2 course of the program that initiated here last week is closing today. I fondly remember the inaugural day when I had the opportunity to address the first batch of junior manager level students of the Post Graduate Program for Executives Visionary Leaders for Manufacturing (PGPEX-VLFM), only a few days following; our former. Prime Minister of Japan H.E. Mr. Shinzo Abe's hallmark visit to Kolkata. This time, in Kolkata, an opportunity has unfolded for; both the junior, managerial level trainees undergoing the one-year full time PGPEX-VLFM program and the senior general managerial level participants pursuing this four-week course to gather at a common place to mutually exchange their views. I believe this kind of interactions amongst the participants is very significant to foster the visionary leaders.
I think it is especially befitting to mention here that Mr. Shinzo Abe, our former Prime...Minister, signed a. joint statement in New Delhi in August this year with Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh on "the roadmap for new dimensions to the strategic and global partnership between Japan and India". On the Visionary Leaders: for Manufacturing Program (VLFM), the two leaders noted with satisfaction that the first VLFM programme has been launched under Japanese- Technical Cooperation. Programme to facilitate establishing an advanced and innovative management education system in India. Prime Minister Mr.Abe, in his historic inaugural speech at the Bharat Japan Cultural Centre (Rabindra-OKAKURA Bhavan) in Kolkata stressed the importance on this VLFM Program at the IIM Calcutta. This shows my home government's immense interest in the successful implementation of the program in India. I am sure that this kind of Japanese co-operation is unique and pioneering in the world and it shows the special strategic partnership between Japan and India in order to make strong India in the manufacturing sector. It will not be out of place to mention here that Dr. Manmohan Singh, Hon'ble Prime Minister of India visited Japan during December last year and declared a. joint statement regarding co-operation in the field of manufacturing between Japan and India. Following which, Japanese side has been dispatching experts to IIT Kanpur in order to co-operate the establishment of implementation system for Visionary Leaders for Manufacturing and formation of the curriculum of this program. It is my pleasure that IIM Calcutta was selected; in collaboration with IITs in Madras and Kanpur. Japanese side will be providing faculty and industry experts and again receiving Indian management trainees in Japan. In addition to this, trainings will be given to the students in Japanese firms and organizations in manufacturing sector. The Government of Japan greatly expects private sector of Japan also to co-operate Indian manufacturing sector and receive trainees from India. This reflects our Government's commitment to stand by India's mission of turning her sluggish manufacturing sector into a globally competitive one thereby attaining higher manufacturing growth rate in the days to come. I believe that Indians can do what Japanese can. These weeklong courses, I believe, would, enable the participants to apply the management techniques and help them sort out the challenges faced during implementation. With the process of continuous interaction, I hope the training would finally come out to be of immense benefit to you all.
