Speaking in Berlin, Gandhi said nations that do not produce goods at scale inevitably struggle to create jobs, weakening the social and economic foundations that support democratic systems. He pointed to rising political turbulence in Europe, India and the United States as a direct consequence of this imbalance, where economic insecurity has deepened public discontent and eroded trust in institutions.
Gandhi observed that global manufacturing has, over the years, been overwhelmingly concentrated in China, resulting in a situation where a vast majority of everyday consumer goods are produced there. He described this dependency as a serious strategic and economic concern, particularly for India, which has the resources and demographic strength to emerge as a major manufacturing hub but has fallen short of that potential.
According to Gandhi, India possesses all the critical ingredients required to succeed in manufacturing, including a large workforce, technical capability and a cost structure that can compete globally. However, he argued that policy missteps and a lack of long-term vision have prevented the country from translating these advantages into a robust production ecosystem.
He further stressed that India’s partnerships with the United States or Europe should not be limited to trade in services or commercial exchanges alone. Instead, such alliances must be anchored in democratic values and a shared commitment to building manufacturing capacity that generates large-scale employment.
Gandhi underlined that manufacturing, employment and democracy are deeply interconnected. Without productive industries that provide livelihoods, he said, social cohesion weakens and democratic stability comes under strain. For India to safeguard its democratic framework and ensure long-term political stability, he concluded, the country must decisively shift toward a production-led economic model.
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