"AI has limitless potential"

Bharat Kaushal, MD of Hitachi India, on manufacturing, embracing AI, and more

- BY SIDDHARTH ZARABI

Japanese conglomerate Hitachi has been doing business in India for nearly a century, making it the company’s oldest foreign presence. From pioneering contributions in railway locomotives and telephone exchanges to powering critical infrastructure like the Bhakra Nangal dam, Hitachi has been an integral part of India’s growth story. Over the decades, this collaboration has expanded across key sectors, including manufacturing, infrastructure, and the digital economy. As the company approaches its 100-year milestone in India, Bharat Kaushal, MD, Hitachi India, and Sanjeev Krishan, Chairperson of PwC in India, sat down with Siddharth Zarabi, Editor of Business Today, to discuss Hitachi’s business, the state of manufacturing and the India growth story. Edited excerpts:

SZ: How do you describe the state of manufacturing in India, particularly after the policy push over the past 10 years?