In this insightful conversation, Lakshmi Kaul is in conversation with Dr Param Shah, CEO, Government Relations and Strategic Communications at Arvind Ltd, to explore the evolving intersection of business, policy, and global manufacturing. From India’s growing role in global apparel manufacturing to the impact of the China+1 strategy, Dr Shah shares grounded perspectives on how the industry is actually changing on the ground beyond the headlines and hype. The discussion dives deep into the operational realities of scaling manufacturing in India, including workforce challenges, technology adoption, and the continuous need for upskilling in a rapidly evolving industrial landscape. The conversation also explores the broader role of business in today’s world, where corporations are increasingly expected to contribute not just economically, but socially, through sustainability, skilling, employment generation, and community development. Dr Shah reflects on whether companies are truly prepared for this shift, and what it means for long-term strategy and leadership. Drawing from his experience across academia, industry, and policy engagement (including his work with FICCI in both India and the UK), Dr Shah offers unique insights into how government relations actually work in practice, moving beyond traditional notions of lobbying toward meaningful, strategic engagement. The interview further examines: The role of the Indian diaspora in strengthening India–UK ties What global businesses often misunderstand about India The importance of interdisciplinary leadership in a complex world How policy influence really works—and what separates insiders from outsiders What the future holds for India as a global growth engine This is a thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation for anyone interested in India’s economic story, global manufacturing shifts, policy engagement, leadership, and the future of work. Chapters- 0:00-1:25 Opening 1:59-3:14 The Academic Roots of Business Leadership 3:43-5:19 The Rise Of The Interdisciplinary Leader 5:52-6:39 The Art Of Strategic Government Engagement 6:51-8:13 Navigating Government Affairs Across The UK and India 8:41-11:11 India’s Moment In Global Apparel Manufacturing: Reality Or Hype? 11:22-15:43 India’s Apparel Manufacturing Moment 16:12-18:30 Upskilling The Workforce In The Age Of Technology 18:50-19:45 What Makes A Company A Policy Insider? 20:16-21:16 Can Business Keep Up With Rising Social Expectations? 21:46-23:58 What Global Businesses Still Get Wrong About India 24:48-29:27 AI Governance And Future Tech 30:34-33:01 The Role Of The Indian Diaspora In The UK 34:01-35:40 Rapid Fire Round 35:55-36:32 India’s Decade Of Transformation: What Will Define It? 36:35-37:49 Closing #India #GovernmentRelations #ApparelIndustry #ChinaPlusOne #BusinessIndia

India's merchandise trade deficit continues to widen, but one sector has consistently helped cushion the impact: services exports. Dr. Rupa Dutta explains how strong growth in IT and other services has helped offset trade imbalances. However, she also points to a key challenge—India's services exports remain heavily concentrated in a few sectors and markets. The next phase of growth may depend on broadening both what India exports and where it exports it. Watch the full conversation on our YouTube channel - https://youtu.be/jyENtCORZFc #IndiaEconomy #TradeDeficit #ServicesExports #ITServices #Exports #TradePolicy #EconomicPolicy #GlobalTrade #IndiaGrowth #Economics #BusinessNews #MSME #EconomicGrowth #InternationalTrade #ServicesSector

India has signed a growing number of Free Trade Agreements, but are businesses fully using them? Dr. Rupa Dutta highlights a striking gap: while FTA utilization in many developed economies reaches 70–80%, India's utilization remains significantly lower. The challenge is not just negotiating trade deals, but helping exporters, MSMEs, and manufacturers take advantage of the opportunities they create. Better awareness, market intelligence, and a stronger focus on quality could help Indian businesses compete more effectively in global markets. Watch the full conversation on our YouTube channel - https://youtu.be/jyENtCORZFc #FTA #TradePolicy #IndiaEconomy #Exports #MSME #Manufacturing #EconomicPolicy #FreeTradeAgreements #GlobalTrade #MakeInIndia #BusinessNews #EconomicGrowth #ExportCompetitiveness #IndiaGrowth #Trade

When discussions on foreign investment focus on new factories and greenfield projects, an important opportunity is often overlooked: reviving existing industrial capacity. Dr. Rupa Dutta argues that many manufacturing units, particularly in eastern India, still possess valuable assets, infrastructure, and potential that could be unlocked through technology upgrades and targeted investment. Strengthening existing enterprises may be just as important as building new ones. Watch the full conversation on our YouTube channel - https://youtu.be/jyENtCORZFc #FDI #Manufacturing #IndiaEconomy #BrownfieldInvestment #GreenfieldInvestment #IndustrialPolicy #EconomicPolicy #MakeInIndia #Investment #MSME #Industry #TradePolicy #EconomicGrowth #Infrastructure #IndiaGrowth

When India introduced mandatory gold hallmarking, many in the industry saw it as an unnecessary burden. Today, it has become a trusted benchmark for quality and consumer confidence. Dr. Rupa Dutta explains why some Quality Control Orders (QCOs), despite initial resistance, can strengthen domestic industries, improve standards, and ultimately boost competitiveness and exports. The challenge is finding the right balance between quality assurance and ease of doing business. Watch the full conversation - https://youtu.be/jyENtCORZFc #QCO #QualityControl #IndiaEconomy #GoldHallmarking #TradePolicy #Manufacturing #Exports #EconomicPolicy #BusinessNews #MakeInIndia #Industry #Standards #Economics #IndiaGrowth #Policy

India recorded over $80 billion in FDI inflows, but the bigger question is whether that investment is creating lasting economic value. Dr. Rupa Dutta argues that India must focus on the quality of FDI, encouraging technology transfer, manufacturing growth, supply-chain integration, and productive capital deployment rather than simply chasing larger numbers. For India to move up the value chain, attracting the right kind of investment may matter more than attracting more investment. Watch the full conversation on our YouTube channel - https://lnkd.in/gVeEW6RY hashtag#FDI hashtag#IndiaEconomy hashtag#ForeignDirectInvestment hashtag#EconomicPolicy hashtag#Manufacturing hashtag#TradePolicy hashtag#Investment hashtag#BusinessNews hashtag#Economics hashtag#IndiaGrowth hashtag#SupplyChains hashtag#GlobalEconomy hashtag#MakeInIndia hashtag#MSME hashtag#Policy

India's foreign direct investment (FDI) numbers continue to attract global attention, but do the headline figures tell the full story? In this episode of Global Order, Hindol Sengupta speaks with Dr. Rupa Dutta, former Economic Adviser in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, on the changing landscape of investment, manufacturing, trade, and economic competitiveness. Dr. Dutta examines why India must focus not only on the quantity of FDI but also on its quality, highlighting the importance of manufacturing investment, technology transfer, supply-chain integration, and employment generation. The discussion explores India's performance in attracting foreign capital, the challenges of the China+1 strategy, the role of MSMEs, trade deficits, export competitiveness, bilateral investment treaties (BITs), quality control orders (QCOs), and the reforms still needed to strengthen India's industrial base. Chapters 00:00 - 02:25 - Opening 02:26 - 05:45 - The status of FDI in India 05:46 - 09:23 - Structural problems limiting FDI 09:24 - 14:03 - Execution gaps on the ground 14:04 - 18:32 - Gaps in Make in India, supply chain diversification, and China plus one strategy 18:33 - 24:39 - India's Export Performance and Import Dependence 24:40 - 30:13 - Dilemma around FTAs and QCOs 30:14 - 33:56 - Existing Policy Gaps 33:57 - 35:01 - Closing #IndiaEconomy #FDI #Manufacturing #TradePolicy #Economics #GlobalOrder #Investment #ChinaPlusOne #MSME #EconomicGrowth

Manish Tiwari, Chairman & Managing Director of Here and Now 365, argues that India needs a cultural shift to better channel the energy of its youth. He believes that societal pressure to pursue secure, conventional careers often discourages innovation and entrepreneurship, while critical challenges such as pollution and environmental degradation receive too little attention from young talent. He stresses the need for greater support for youth-led problem-solving and creative thinking. Watch the full interview here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npFBUveTP6k