Page 32 - Construction_Opportunities_January_2026

POST-EXCON
organized by CII. EXCON continues to serve as a vital industry- manufacturers—from advanced digital machines to sustainable
led platform that brings together manufacturers, policymakers, and energy-efficient equipment. These innovations demonstrate
and global stakeholders, while showcasing India’s growing that India is not just manufacturing for the world but shaping the
capabilities in construction equipment and infrastructure solutions. future of construction technologies. This strengthens our export
The strong participation, innovative products and technologies competitiveness and reinforces India’s position as a trusted global
on display, and increasing international engagement reflect the supplier.”
sector’s growing maturity and its alignment with India’s long-term Providing a broader economic perspective, Ajit Pai, Partner,
economic and sustainability priorities.” Ernst & Young, noted, “India’s Construction Equipment industry
Echoing this sentiment, Deepak Shetty, Co-Chairman, is the fastest growing among major economies. With exports
EXCON 2025, remarked, “EXCON truly represents the ‘festival rising at more than double the domestic market’s pace and
of construction equipment,’ and it is competitiveness steadily improving across
heartening to once again see records inputs, quality, and scale, India is rapidly
being broken through collective industry positioning itself as a global CE hub.”
effort. India today is the world’s third-largest From a policy and innovation lens,
construction equipment market, and I am Neeraj Huddar, Resident Fellow, NITI
confident that we have the potential to Aayog, observed that achieving
move to second position within the next India’s manufacturing ambitions would
five years. EXCON will continue to be a vital depend on the strategic deployment of
platform for showcasing cutting-edge products and solutions that advanced technologies, while Prof. Rishikesha Krishnan, Indian
support infrastructure development in India and across global Institute of Management Bangalore, stressed the need for
markets.” systematic innovation, strong national ecosystems, and focused
Beyond domestic growth, EXCON 2025 placed a strong spotlight collaboration. Adding an industry perspective, Mr Pratik Kumar,
on exports and global competitiveness. The event reinforced CEO, Wipro Infrastructure Engineering, highlighted the role of
industry ambitions to build a $25 billion construction equipment additive manufacturing in advancing sustainability and supply-
market by 2030, with Indian-made equipment already reaching chain resilience through localized, on-demand production.
over 135 countries. The exhibition also highlighted Bengaluru’s Together, these discussions and demonstrations positioned
emergence as a construction technology hub, aligned with India’s EXCON 2025 as far more than a trade exhibition. It emerged as a
long-term vision of becoming a $30 trillion economy by 2047. strategic convergence point for industry, government, and global
stakeholders—reaffirming India’s trajectory toward becoming a
Sessions Spotlight: Pioneering India’s Construction Future leading global hub for construction equipment manufacturing,
On the side lines, CII, in partnership with ICEMA, organized a innovation, and exports, powered by scale, sustainability, and
focused session on Export Competitiveness of the Construction collaboration.
Equipment Industry during the 2nd Manufacturing Council
Meeting. Addressing the gathering, Shri Vimal Anand, Joint Innovation on Display: Showcasing Next-Gen CE Solutions
Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce The exhibition witnessed over 300 product launches and live
& Industry, congratulated the industry on its export momentum demonstrations of cutting-edge machinery. Highlights included
and said, “The government is committed to concluding these electric and hybrid equipment, AI-enabled systems, sustainable
trade agreements within a span of one year. We strongly technologies, and advanced heavy vehicles from industry
encourage the industry to make full use of these frameworks and leaders like JCB, Volvo CE, Tata Motors, Caterpillar, Escorts Kubota,
significantly enhance their exports to these emerging and high- Schwing Stetter, Propel Industries, and JK Tyre. These innovations
potential markets.” He also emphasised that, alongside export underscored India’s growing leadership in high-efficiency, low-
diversification, broadening import markets remains equally critical. emission, and digitally connected construction solutions.
Reinforcing India’s growing global standing, Deepak Shetty, JCB India unveiled its largest-ever product showcase, launching
Chairman, CII Council on Manufacturing Excellence, President, over 10 new machines and digital solutions, headlined by the
ICEMA & MD & CEO, JCB India Ltd., stated, “Indian construction 52.8-tonne JCB 520X LC excavator—the largest excavator
equipment is today exported to more than 135 countries, reflecting manufactured by JCB in India for domestic and global markets.
the strength and quality of our manufacturing. The Government The new portfolio spans heavy, mid, and compact equipment,
has extended tremendous support to the industry through trade including upgraded backhoe loaders, a refreshed excavator
facilitation and policy reforms. It is now for us—as an industry—to range (2–5 tonne), telehandlers, compactors, and industry-first
expand our reach, tap new markets, and position India firmly as technologies, all engineered around lower total cost of ownership,
a global hub for construction equipment.” higher fuel efficiency, improved uptime, and enhanced safety.
Highlighting the innovation showcased Sustainability and digitalization were central themes, with JCB
at EXCON, Ramesh Palagiri, President expanding its hydrogen portfolio through a hydrogen-powered
Designate, ICEMA, Managing Director genset, showcasing advanced telematics, a new Parts Online
& CEO, Wirtgen India Pvt. Ltd., added, e-commerce platform, an Operator App, and next-generation
“EXCON has showcased the remarkable training tools such as simulators. Backed by a nationwide service
innovation capability of Indian CE and parts network, JCB’s EXCON 2025 showcase reinforced its

32 CONSTRUCTION OPPORTUNITIES|JANUARY 2026