India’s shift toward a green economy offers a unique opportunity to align sustainability with industrial competitiveness, said Bhupender Yadav, Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Speaking at the CII IndiaEdge 2025 event during a plenary on “Green Growth: Aligning Sustainability with Competitiveness,” he urged businesses to harness this momentum through voluntary commitments that advance India’s vision of a self-reliant circular economy. He highlighted the role of investments in research, infrastructure, skill development, and collaboration with MSMEs in driving a globally competitive and sustainable industrial base.
Circularity, Yadav explained, involves minimizing waste by keeping materials in use through repair, reuse, and recycling. He stressed that clean industrialisation should be seen as an enabler of innovation, resilience, and economic growth, and decarbonising manufacturing is vital to boost export competitiveness while mitigating carbon-related trade risks.
Neal Thakker of Magma Group noted that Indian businesses, particularly MSMEs, are increasingly adopting sustainable practices, eco-friendly materials, and waste-to-energy solutions. Yadav also cited reforms like GST 2.0, which lowers tax rates on renewable energy equipment, biodegradable plastics, effluent treatment plants, and electric vehicles, creating further incentives for green manufacturing and global market integration.