Jaipur: Despite being located close to the NCR region, Rajasthan has not yet fully developed as a major foundry hub. Therefore, large-scale investments and manufacturing push are essential in the state’s engineering and manufacturing sectors to expand ancillary industries and generate large-scale employment.
This key observation was made during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Institute of Indian Foundrymen (IIF) held in the city.
Leadership Handover
In the meeting, Vikram Jain of Jaipur officially took over the charge as the National President of the organization. The outgoing President, Sushil Sharma, handed over the responsibilities to him.
In the newly appointed executive body:
R. Saravanan was appointed Vice President.
Pradeep Mittal took charge as Secretary.
Pradeep Kumar Madhogaria was named Treasurer.
Focus on MSMEs, Technology & Global Competition
Speaking on the occasion, Newly elected IIF President Vikram Jain stressed the importance of making the industry globally competitive, enhancing exports, and integrating MSME foundry units with emerging technological advancements.
He highlighted that casting plays a crucial role in sectors like industrial infrastructure, railways, defense, commercial vehicles, and aerospace. Currently, the automobile sector accounts for nearly 30–40% share in casting production.
Export Opportunities Amid Global Shutdowns
Outgoing President Sushil Sharma pointed out that due to the closure of several foundries across Europe and the United States, significant export opportunities are opening up for Indian manufacturers. He stated that Indian companies possess the required production capacity and quality standards demanded by foreign markets.
Future Roadmap & 75-Year Jubilee
During the AGM, the annual financial report and major achievements of the past year were presented alongside future action plans. Discussions centered around industry-academia collaboration, green manufacturing, digitization, and modernizing technologies.
It was also announced that to mark 75 years of IIF's establishment, the 81st Indian Foundry Congress will be hosted in Delhi from February 8 to 10.
