88% of Manufacturers Plan Expansion Backed by Infrastructure Growth, Urge for Integrated Parks and Skilled Talent

- Cushman & Wakefield Survey RegNews, New Delhi, 27 June — India’s manufacturing and logistics ecosystem is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by strong policy support and large-scale infrastructure investments. Cushman & Wakefield’s latest report, Elevating India’s Manufacturing Resilience: Charting the Path to Self-Reliance, presents a comprehensive analysis of this evolving landscape—highlighting the sector’s growing maturity and global potential, while also addressing persistent challenges around logistics costs, limited domestic value addition, and MSME productivity. At the heart of the report lies a proprietary survey conducted with 94 senior decision-makers across India’s manufacturing and logistics sectors, including chief executives, plant heads, and supply chain leaders, capturing a mix of perspectives from large enterprises and MSMEs. These respondents represent a diverse group, with 56% of companies employing over 500 people, offering a credible pulse of industry sentiment. Industrial Momentum Accelerates The survey reveals high optimism regarding the impact of government-led infrastructure initiatives such as Bharatmala, Sagarmala, Dedicated Freight Corridors, and the National Industrial Corridor Development. As many as 86% of respondents said these initiatives have positively influenced their business operations, while 95% reported improved access to logistics and transport infrastructure as a result. For 88% of respondents, the government’s infrastructure push has directly influenced capital investment decisions, signaling increased confidence to scale operations. For large enterprises, the impact is even sharper—94% say these upgrades have been pivotal in shaping their expansion plans. While the infrastructure buildout has laid the groundwork for industrial expansion, government policies like the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes and Make-in-India are shaping strategic priorities. Over 40% of respondents said these schemes have had the most significant impact on their business. Meanwhile, the National Logistics Policy (NLP) and National Industrial Corridor Development (NICD) were cited by 54% as being especially beneficial, particularly among MSMEs, for whom logistics accessibility and industrial park connectivity are key enablers. Notably, 77% of the respondents felt that the ease of doing business had improved, with the figure rising to 86% among large-scale firms. “India’s manufacturing sector is undergoing a structural shift. Our findings indicate a strong alignment between infrastructure investment, policy clarity, and industry intent. According to our survey, 88% of manufacturers are scaling up due to infrastructure-led confidence, and over 95% report improved logistics access through government-backed programs. Yet, to sustain this momentum, India must address deep-rooted cost and capacity gaps—especially in logistics, integrated facilities, and MSME productivity. Plug-and-play industrial parks, multimodal logistics networks, and improved land aggregation frameworks are not just enablers, they are essential levers for converting policy momentum into production ready outcomes,” said Gautam Saraf, Executive Managing Director, Mumbai & New Business, Cushman & Wakefield.