NEW DELHI: In the panel discussion on Monday at the fifth edition of TOI Dialogues in Kanpur, themed ‘Transforming Kanpur into a Thriving Economic Hub,’ panelists Maneesh Mansingka, Mayur Maheshwari, Sandeep Goenka, Manoj Gupta, and Dr Sanjay Kumar Singh talked on the importance of industrial development and infrastructure in the city for better growth.
The chairman of MKU Ltd & MD, AR Thermosets Manoj Gupta said, “Kanpur is well placed, and since the city is located on the banks of Ganga, we should focus on waterways.UP is a landlocked state so if the policymakers and government work on waterways schemes in Kanpur, it will be a great table turner.”
Goldiee Group chairman Sandeep Goenka said, “Today India’s average age is the youngest in the world and for any development of city or state of a country we need retail talent. If we promote training centres and skills a lot of talent can come back and reverse brain drain can happen… 8% of startups in the county are from UP but it’s less than 1% in Kanpur, but if we develop incubation centres then we establish and retain many startups… All we need is a good infrastructure IT, Startup and skill development in an ecosystem.”
“If the whole world is looking at India then India is looking at UP and UP is looking at Kanpur, for India to make a name for itself in the world,” he added.
The CEO of Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDC ) Mayur Maheshwari, speaking on how the government can support policy and industrial framework for Kanpur said, “Kanpur stands among the top 10 in taxpayers. Now we work in a format where all things are done online and on the same channel and platform … and we are working as a unified whole.”
“We are now working closely to bring new incubators and tie up with the IIT Kanpur so that the city can become the EV capital of the state, the country and also the world,” he said.
The Director of Singer India Limited and Director, JK Urban Spaces Maneesh Mansingka on developing skills and converting them into an employment opportunity said that “Kanpur as a city was among the top 5 GDP in the country in the 1950’s and 60’s and being the largest city in the most populous state in the country there is possible to rejuvenate and regenerate Kanpur, with a whole host of other industries.
“We need to utlise the land that is never used or poorly utilised and to do that we need to have good policies like the other states. UP requires a good framework,” he added.
Professor, Business Environment of IIM Lucknow Dr Sanjay Kumar Singh on long-term planning and eco-friendly approach in Kanpur said,” We have to learn historically. In 1960 Kanpur was a thriving economy when Bangalore was a sleeping town. In 71, when the first textile mill was established, lakhs of people worked.”
“But Bangalore is a 110 billion dollar economy now and Kanpur is less than a 10 billion dollar economy, it’s the same as how Cambodia and Singapore were the same in the 60s. Things changed dramatically and then Singapore is now one of the richest places in the world.”
He further continued, “To revive Kanpur’s economy 2 sectors are very important here, leather and textile as 20% of leather is produced from Kanpur, and though the textile industry is dismantled and mills are closed, if we work towards it these two sectors, it can contribute and add value to the city.”
Singh explained what happened to the city that was once called ‘Manchester of the East’ adding that, “Post Independence, textile mills were making profits, but they were told they don’t have to reinvest in modernization of the mills and instead invest in some other sector.”
The chairman of MKU Ltd & MD, AR Thermosets Manoj Gupta said, “Kanpur is well placed, and since the city is located on the banks of Ganga, we should focus on waterways.UP is a landlocked state so if the policymakers and government work on waterways schemes in Kanpur, it will be a great table turner.”
Goldiee Group chairman Sandeep Goenka said, “Today India’s average age is the youngest in the world and for any development of city or state of a country we need retail talent. If we promote training centres and skills a lot of talent can come back and reverse brain drain can happen… 8% of startups in the county are from UP but it’s less than 1% in Kanpur, but if we develop incubation centres then we establish and retain many startups… All we need is a good infrastructure IT, Startup and skill development in an ecosystem.”
“If the whole world is looking at India then India is looking at UP and UP is looking at Kanpur, for India to make a name for itself in the world,” he added.
The CEO of Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDC ) Mayur Maheshwari, speaking on how the government can support policy and industrial framework for Kanpur said, “Kanpur stands among the top 10 in taxpayers. Now we work in a format where all things are done online and on the same channel and platform … and we are working as a unified whole.”
“We are now working closely to bring new incubators and tie up with the IIT Kanpur so that the city can become the EV capital of the state, the country and also the world,” he said.
The Director of Singer India Limited and Director, JK Urban Spaces Maneesh Mansingka on developing skills and converting them into an employment opportunity said that “Kanpur as a city was among the top 5 GDP in the country in the 1950’s and 60’s and being the largest city in the most populous state in the country there is possible to rejuvenate and regenerate Kanpur, with a whole host of other industries.
“We need to utlise the land that is never used or poorly utilised and to do that we need to have good policies like the other states. UP requires a good framework,” he added.
Professor, Business Environment of IIM Lucknow Dr Sanjay Kumar Singh on long-term planning and eco-friendly approach in Kanpur said,” We have to learn historically. In 1960 Kanpur was a thriving economy when Bangalore was a sleeping town. In 71, when the first textile mill was established, lakhs of people worked.”
“But Bangalore is a 110 billion dollar economy now and Kanpur is less than a 10 billion dollar economy, it’s the same as how Cambodia and Singapore were the same in the 60s. Things changed dramatically and then Singapore is now one of the richest places in the world.”
He further continued, “To revive Kanpur’s economy 2 sectors are very important here, leather and textile as 20% of leather is produced from Kanpur, and though the textile industry is dismantled and mills are closed, if we work towards it these two sectors, it can contribute and add value to the city.”
Singh explained what happened to the city that was once called ‘Manchester of the East’ adding that, “Post Independence, textile mills were making profits, but they were told they don’t have to reinvest in modernization of the mills and instead invest in some other sector.”
