Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said manufacturing must be at the core of India’s growth strategy after visiting BMW Welt and the BMW Group’s manufacturing plant in Munich, Germany. Gandhi, in a social media post, described the visit as an opportunity to see “world-class manufacturing up close” and reflect on the role of industrial ecosystems in building strong economies.
During the guided tour, Gandhi noted the presence of TVS Motor Company’s 450cc motorcycle, developed in partnership with BMW Motorrad, on display at the facility. Calling it a “proud moment”, he said the collaboration showcased the capabilities of Indian engineering on a global platform.
In his remarks, Gandhi underlined that manufacturing remains the backbone of resilient and prosperous economies, but warned that India has been witnessing a decline in manufacturing’s share. He said reversing this trend is essential for accelerating economic growth.
“To grow faster, India needs to produce more, build meaningful manufacturing ecosystems, and create high-quality jobs at scale,” Gandhi said, emphasising the need for policy focus on domestic production and long-term industrial capacity building.
The BMW visit comes amid ongoing debates in India over industrial policy, job creation and the role of manufacturing in sustaining economic expansion. Gandhi has repeatedly highlighted employment generation and strengthening domestic manufacturing as key priorities in his economic commentary.
