India can’t get a better person than its PM himself to inspire Indians and India to get back on the right track to take the country ahead as a global manufacturing power. His speech from Red Fort on 2014 Independence Day was pathbreaking and most inspiring for taking India fast to grow as manufacturing superpower:

For Foreign and NRIs

“…..and I call upon the world and call upon the Indians spread world over that if we have to provide more and more employment to the youth, we will have to promote manufacturing sector. If we have to develop a balance between imports and exports, we will have to strengthen manufacturing sector. If we have to put in use the education, the capability of the youth, we will have to go for manufacturing sector and for this Hindustan also will have to lend its full strength, but we also invite world powers. Therefore I want to appeal all the people world over, from the ramparts of the Red Fort, “Come, make in India”, “Come, manufacture in India”. Sell in any country of the world but manufacture here. We have got skill, talent, discipline, and determination to do something. We want to give the world an favourable opportunity that come here, “Come, Make in India” and we will say to the world, from electrical to electronics, “Come, Make in India”, from automobiles to agro value addition “Come, Make in India”, paper or plastic, “Come, Make in India”, satellite or submarine “Come, Make in India”. Our country is powerful. Come, I am giving you an invitation.”

To India’s Young entrepreneurs

“Brothers and sisters, I want to call upon the youth of the country, particularly the small people engaged in the industrial sector. I want to call upon the youth working in the field of technical education in the country. As I say to the world “Come, Make in India”, I say to the youth of the country – it should be our dream that this message reaches every corner of the world, “Made in India”. This should be our dream.”
…..

To youngsters

“Brothers and Sisters, I would like to pose a question to my youngsters as to why despite them, we are forced to import even the smallest of things? My country`s youth can resolve it, they should conduct research, try to find out as to what type of items are imported by India and then each one should resolve that, through may be micro or small industries only, he would manufacture at least one such item so that we need not import the same in future. We should even advance to a situation wherein we are able to export such items. If each one of our millions of youngsters resolves to manufacture at least one such item, India can become a net exporter of goods. I, therefore, urge upon the youth, in particular our small entrepreneurs that they would never compromise, at least on two counts. First, zero defect and, second again zero effect. We should manufacture goods in such a way that they carry zero defect, that our exported goods are never returned to us. We should manufacture goods with zero effect that they should not have a negative impact on the environment. If we march ahead with the dream of zero defect in the manufacturing sector then, my brothers and sisters, I am confident that we would be able to achieve our goals.”

There can not be a better way of putting forth the case of manufacturing and its relevance for the real fast growth in manufacturing sector. But I as well as many well known columnists and economists also question if factually the call will bring manufacturing in focus of the entrepreneurs.
Sankar Acharya in Business Standard wrote, “The national polices required to bring about this resuscitation of manufacturing have yet to be announced or put in place in the critical areas of labour laws, the land acquisition law, infrastructure and skilling of the work force.”

William Pesek commented in Bloomberg, “ On Friday, he announced a bold scheme to turn India into a manufacturing superpower without providing any details- better infrastructure, less red tape, increased training- of how he might pull off such a feat. Talking about a manufacturing revolution that involves “zero imports” and “zero defects” is catchy gimmicky……The billion plus people need less talk from Modi and more action.”

If so, what should be the way out to make it happen effectively and fast enough, as it is a national necessity for employment as well as for many more things such as overall inclusive prosperity?