Telangana engaging global experts to integrate AI into Governance and MSME Policy frameworks: Nikhil Chakravarthy: Director of Industries, Government of Telangana
Hyderabad, July 02: The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Telangana State Council, organized a conference on “AI in Manufacturing – Accelerating the Future of Smart Manufacturing” on Thursday at Hyatt Place, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad.
The conference brought together industry leaders, policymakers, technology experts, innovators, and manufacturing professionals to deliberate on how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming manufacturing competitiveness, productivity, innovation, and sustainability.
Addressing the gathering as the Chief Guest, Mr. Nikhil Chakravarthy, IA&AS, Director of Industries, Government of Telangana, underscored Telangana’s commitment to fostering innovation-led industrial growth and accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies across sectors.
Sharing his observations from visits to advanced manufacturing ecosystems abroad, Chakravarthy said that industries in countries such as China and Taiwan have made significant progress in deploying AI-driven technologies and smart manufacturing practices.
“India must accelerate AI adoption across industries—not only among large enterprises but also within MSMEs. The Telangana Government is actively working with leading global consultants to integrate AI into governance and policy-making frameworks, including those aimed at strengthening MSMEs,” he said.
Emphasizing the urgency of embracing technological change, he added, “AI is here. Those who adapt will become globally competitive.”
Welcoming the participants, Mr. V. V. Rama Raju, Chairman, FICCI Telangana State Council and Founder & Managing Director, Gaja Engineering, highlighted the growing importance of AI-led transformation in strengthening India’s manufacturing ecosystem and enhancing its global competitiveness.
“AI is no longer a concept of the future. It is now a make-or-break imperative for businesses seeking to remain competitive in an increasingly digital world,” he remarked.
Delivering the theme address, Mr. Harsh Vardhan, Conference Chairman and Global Head – Digital Innovation Hub, Apollo Tyres Ltd., highlighted the growing role of AI, Industry 4.0 technologies, digital twins, predictive analytics, and intelligent automation in building agile, efficient, and future-ready manufacturing enterprises.
He observed that AI is rapidly becoming part of the manufacturing DNA and stressed that the technology is not intended to replace human intelligence but to augment human capabilities.
“The future factory runs on AI, but trust remains a human responsibility. Once AI starts acting instead of advising, governance becomes a production issue, not just an IT issue,” he said, emphasizing the importance of responsible AI adoption and robust governance frameworks.
The inaugural session concluded with a vote of thanks by Mr. Meela Jayadev, Co-Chairman, FICCI Telangana State Council and Director, Sudhakar PVC Products Pvt. Ltd.
A key highlight of the conference was a panel discussion on “AI in Manufacturing: Driving Productivity, Innovation and Sustainability,” moderated by Mr. M. V. Reddy, SVP & Head – Cloud Services, Jio Platforms.
The panel included: Mr. Sarvesh Singh, CEO, Lifesciences & Pharma, Government of Telangana; Ms. Qi Yang, Head – AI & Machine Learning, Biological E. Limited and Mr. Gulbahar Singh, CIO & Digital Transformation Leader, MYK LATICRETE
The panel explored opportunities and challenges associated with AI adoption across manufacturing sectors, including predictive maintenance, quality assurance, intelligent supply chains, smart factories, workforce transformation, and sustainability initiatives.
The experts emphasized the importance of strong digital infrastructure, robust data governance frameworks, cybersecurity preparedness, and continuous workforce upskilling to maximize the benefits of AI-driven transformation.
Sharing a large-enterprise perspective, Mr. Harsh Vardhan presented a detailed case study on Apollo Tyres’ AI transformation journey. He explained how AI technologies are being integrated into manufacturing operations to improve efficiency, optimize production processes, enhance decision-making, and deliver measurable business outcomes. He also shared practical insights and lessons learned in scaling AI adoption across large manufacturing organizations.
Providing the MSME perspective, Dr. K. Srinivasa Raju, CEO, Unistring Tech Solutions Pvt. Ltd., showcased practical AI applications being deployed by small and medium manufacturing enterprises. He highlighted how MSMEs can leverage AI to improve productivity, product quality, operational efficiency, and competitiveness while overcoming challenges related to technology adoption, investment, and digital readiness.
Industry leaders noted that as India advances toward becoming a global manufacturing hub, the adoption of AI and Industry 4.0 technologies will be instrumental in creating smarter factories, driving innovation, improving competitiveness, and enabling sustainable industrial growth.
The conference reaffirmed FICCI’s commitment to facilitating industry dialogue, knowledge sharing, and collaboration to accelerate the adoption of advanced technologies and support the growth of India’s manufacturing sector.
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