Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Jul 10: Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday called upon Indian industry to become a global leader in sustainability, innovation, and youth empowerment, saying the country is well-positioned to emerge as a “trusted economy” and a “reliable partner” in an increasingly unstable world.

Speaking at the CII-ITC Sustainability Awards in the capital, Dhankhar described India as a key voice amid global turbulence, noting that disruptions in supply chains and shifting geopolitical alignments have highlighted the need for resilience. “In this disturbed scenario, Bharat is a prominent voice,” he said.

He emphasised that sustainability should not be seen as a regulatory burden but as a “competitive advantage,” and urged companies to invest boldly in green technologies like renewable energy, hydrogen fuel, carbon markets, and circular economy models.

“Let us not treat sustainability as a compliance, but as a source of competitive advantage. The moment we take it in the compliance groove, the battle is lost,” he remarked.

Calling for a “whole-of-society” approach, the Vice-President said India’s transformation requires all actors — government, private sector, civil society, and communities — to work in tandem. “This engine has to fire on all cylinders if we are to succeed,” he said.

Highlighting India’s young population as a major asset, he stressed the urgent need for skilling and innovation. “With the median age at 28, we are 10 years younger than China and the US. Skilling our youth is fundamental,” he said, urging corporates to work with academia and government to build future-ready curricula.

Dhankhar also called on India Inc. to expand the country’s global influence beyond markets to ideas, standards, and solutions. “Let us build ‘Brand India’ on four pillars — quality, trust, innovation, and ancient wisdom reimagined for modern relevance,” he said.

He further encouraged companies to revisit their approach to CSR, especially in health and education. “These sectors were once about giving back to society. Today they are turning into profit-driven enterprises. Corporate India must reflect on this shift,” he said.

Framing India’s sustainable development journey as critical to the global 2030 agenda, Dhankhar concluded that India has embraced this challenge “with clarity and conviction.”