Industrial Cluster Development

Gujarat: “Sanand, Becharaji, and Beyond: Why Dholera Defines India’s Next Growth Era” When Tata Motors exited Singur in 2008, Gujarat under then CM Narendra Modi turned a challenge into opportunity. Within 72 hours, land was secured at Sanand, which soon became India’s new automotive hub. What began with Tata Nano has grown into a cluster where Suzuki, MG Motor, Honda, and Hero manufacture at scale, supported by global suppliers. Nearby, Becharaji rose as India’s two-wheeler capital with Honda and Suzuki Motorcycles, further reinforcing Gujarat’s role as the mobility engine of India. Both Sanand and Becharaji highlight the strength of Gujarat’s industrial development model—cluster-based growth, jobs at scale, and manufacturing-led exports. Rajkot – engineering and foundry hub • Morbi – world’s largest ceramic tile cluster • Surat – diamond polishing and textiles powerhouse • Jamnagar – brass parts, oil refining, and the world’s largest grass-roots refinery • Ankleshwar & Vapi – India’s chemical heartland • Dahej PCPIR – petrochemicals and port-based industries • Gandhidham & Mundra – logistics and energy gateway • Alang – the world’s largest ship-breaking yard • Ahmedabad – pharma, biotech, and healthcare hub Together, these clusters showcase Gujarat’s policy of decentralised industrialisation, ensuring jobs and growth across the state. But the next chapter is Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR), and it is different. Unlike Sanand or Becharaji, which are state-level industrial development regions, Dholera is a plug-and-play global smart city, built under the Delhi–Mumbai Industrial Corridor. It combines industrial, residential, and commercial zones within one master-planned ecosystem, powered by four-way connectivity: • Expressway to Ahmedabad • MRTS high-speed metro link • Dedicated Freight Corridor • International Airport (under development) Already home to Tata’s ₹91,000-crore semiconductor fab, Dholera is being positioned as India’s first semicon-ready city, designed with next-gen infrastructure, renewable power, and integrated ICT systems. Where Sanand builds cars and Becharaji builds bikes, Dholera will build the future—semiconductors, aerospace, EVs, defence, and green energy. It is not just a manufacturing hub; it is India’s answer to Dubai and Singapore, offering global citizens skill employment, modern living, and world-class business opportunities. For investors, Dholera is the leap from “Make in India” to “Live, Work, and Invest in India.” It is where Bharat@2047 takes shape as a global economic city, uniting industry with lifestyle and creating opportunities that span generations. “Gujarat is India’s Cluster Powerhouse and Gateway to Global Growth” #GAP4Dholera 🇮🇳 ~ Building the foundation of Bharat tomorrow

The growth of Germany’s Saxony region is surprising to many who associate Germany with automotive innovation, not ASIC invention. As Europe’s largest microelectronics hub and one of the top FIVE global semiconductor regions, this cornerstone of innovation has a global impact today on groundbreaking sectors like quantum computing, photonics, and process engineering. To understand this rise, we have to trace its roots back more than a century. Saxony’s foundation in machinery production fostered a culture of precision engineering for automakers, but Post-WWII, investments in research and industrial redevelopment positioned the region at the center of Europe’s burgeoning electronics industry. By the 70’s, leaders like Siemens and  Infineon Technologies were bringing cutting-edge electronics expertise and attracting top talent. The establishment of the Fraunhofer Society’s institutes – including Fraunhofer IIS – established a strong foundation of R&D, and collaboration with leading institutions like the Technische Universität Dresden strengthened Saxony’s engineering talent pipeline. The country’s official launch of the “Silicon Saxony” brand in 2001 cemented its role as a leading global tech hub, drawing further investment from the EU and attracting even more talent. But government intervention doesn’t set this region apart, it’s that DEEPLY ingrained culture of collaboration. Unlike tech hubs that lean on competition, global giants and innovative startups here thrive in tightly knit clusters, sharing knowledge and resources. For example, a recent partnership between X-FAB and SMART Photonics will usher in new production processes that will buoy growth throughout Europe, giving the continent a real chance to compete on the global stage in AI and other sectors. As XFab’s CEO Rudi De Winter put it, “Through heterogeneous integration, we’re combining the best of two worlds, which will allow our customers to develop innovative solutions addressing the societal challenges of our times. It’s a great opportunity to build a strong European value chain.” The area’s ecosystem has become such a magnet, that it has propagated many startups in Germany that COULD have explored other countries. Those pushing boundaries in quantum compute, like planqc in Munich, and redefining semiconductor materials, like Black Semiconductor in Aachen, benefit from the cultural roots that reach Dresden. Furthermore, reforms to Germany’s immigration laws have made it easier to attract brilliant foreign engineers, like faster processing of student visas and work permits and allowing foreigners to take language tests in their native language. This is a clear blueprint for leaders of other regions and demonstrates how strategic investment, a collaborative culture, and a commitment to self-reflection and can turn a region that once held a strict, defined view of its future into a global powerhouse for change and innovation. #semiconductorindustry #semiconductors #siliconsaxony

PART 2 – FROM POTENTIAL TO POLICY: HOW TO SCALE UP EGYPT’S INDUSTRIAL BASE THROUGH SMEs In my previous post, I argued that Egypt’s reliance on short-term financial inflows must give way to a longer-term strategy rooted in real sector transformation—particularly through SME-led industrialization. The question is not why, but how. If Egypt is to close its industrial scale-up gap, we must shift from fragmented programs to a coherent national strategy that integrates SMEs into the productive economy. Here are five strategic priorities to consider: 1- Reorient Industrial Policy Toward SME Clusters Industrial zones must serve as platforms for SME cooperation, technology sharing, and value chain integration—not just real estate for large investors. 2- Expand Access to Finance Beyond Collateral-Based Lending SMEs need access to working capital and investment finance through blended finance models, guarantee schemes, and equity-based instruments that support risk-taking and growth. 3- Embed SMEs in National and Regional Supply Chains Government procurement, export programs, and industrial partnerships must be restructured to link SMEs with anchor firms and global buyers. 4- Invest in Industrial Infrastructure and Logistics Secondary cities and underserved governorates require reliable infrastructure—power, transport, broadband—to enable localized industrial growth. 5- Align Skills and Technology Policies with SME Needs Technical and vocational education should be demand-driven, co-designed with industry, and supported by technology extension services tailored to SMEs. Egypt has the human capital, geographic advantages, and institutional experience to make this shift. But success hinges on moving beyond policy statements to execution at scale—across sectors and regions. SMEs are not peripheral actors in this story. They are the foundation of a more inclusive, resilient, and future-ready Egyptian economy. #EgyptEconomy #IndustrialPolicy #SMEs #Manufacturing #InclusiveGrowth #StructuralReform #ProductiveSectors #EconomicResilience #SupplyChains #Moataz_Yeken

🚢 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬: 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚’𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞! 🇮🇳 ⚓   India’s shipbuilding industry is entering a transformative era with the launch of Ship Clusters under 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟒𝟕. This ambitious initiative aims to position India as a global shipbuilding hub by developing integrated, end-to-end ecosystems across strategic coastal states. 🔹 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫? A Ship Cluster is a geographically concentrated maritime ecosystem that brings together shipbuilding companies, suppliers, R&D institutions, logistics, and infrastructure — fostering collaboration, innovation, sustainability, and industrial growth. Much like the Auto Clusters that reshaped manufacturing in the late 20th century, ship clusters are set to redefine India’s maritime sector. ⚓ 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐀𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭: ✅ 𝐄𝐧𝐝-𝐭𝐨-𝐄𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦: Raw materials, shipyards, suppliers, supply chain, logistics, testing, and training—all in one hub. 🛳️ 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 for all types of vessels 🌱 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬: Electrification, decarbonization, and green ship recycling. 🔬 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 & 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐇𝐮𝐛𝐬: zero-emission, automation, and hybrid technologies 📍 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: Focused development across key states 🎓 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐬 & 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬 to develop a specialized maritime workforce 📦 𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢-𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬 for seamless supply chain and warehousing support 🤝 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 for collaborative innovation and tech transfer 🏥 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞-𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞: Integrated healthcare, hospitality, and safety facilities 📈 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡: Job creation, MSME boost, export competitiveness. 🏗️ 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 & 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭: Incentives and ease of doing business. 🛠️ 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐲, 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟏𝐬𝐭 India's auto clusters proved how industrial concentration can unlock scale, quality, and innovation. Now, ship clusters are poised to replicate this success for the maritime sector — with climate-smart innovation and global competitiveness at the core. 🌊 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟒𝟕: A Bold Blueprint for India's Blue Economy- With the establishment of strategic shipbuilding clusters, India is not only constructing vessels — it is shaping futures, strengthening global maritime supply chains, and steering the nation towards a sustainable, self-reliant, and globally competitive maritime economy. #ShipClusters #MaritimeIndia #MaritimeFuture #ShipbuildingIndia #MakeInIndia #Vision2047

India’s Real Growth Engine: Mid-India, Mid-Size, and the Middle Entrepreneur While headlines orbit around unicorns and metros, India’s real economic horsepower is quietly revving in the heartland-Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities like Tirupur, Rajkot, Morbi, Coimbatore, Ludhiana. This “Mid-India” is no longer playing catch-up; it's setting the pace. Industrial Clusters Rule: Tirupur exports ₹30,000+ Cr of knitwear annually. Morbi produces 90% of India’s ceramics. Rajkot powers auto parts. These are globally competitive ecosystems, built by MSMEs, not conglomerates. Frugal Innovation + Scale: Mid-size entrepreneurs have mastered Jugaad 2.0—not just doing more with less, but doing better with less. Think powerlooms, solar pumps, modular factories. Not sexy, but extremely scalable. Employment & Livelihoods: MSMEs account for ~30% of GDP, ~45% of exports, and ~110 million jobs. That’s your job engine, not IT campuses. Digital Leapfrog: With UPI, WhatsApp commerce, and ONDC, these businesses are going digital without legacy baggage. Suddenly, a saree seller in Surat has national distribution. Cultural Capital: Unlike legacy family businesses, today’s tier-2 entrepreneurs are IIT-dropouts, WhatsApp marketers, and factory-floor hustlers. They’re hungry and unafraid of risk. Bottom line: India's trillion-dollar dreams won’t be built in air-conditioned boardrooms alone. They’ll be stitched, forged, printed, and packed in the dusty lanes of Mid-India by its quiet gladiators: the mid-size firms and middle entrepreneurs ! We, at www.thinkasconsumer.com , provide management support and work shoulder to shoulder with such mid size organisations and Entrepreneurs and thus ramp up the businesses & brands , hopefully in our small way help in nation building ... ( We are not just consultants ) #thinkasconsumer #middleindia #economicgrowth #interimmanagement #FractionalCEO #RampUp #businessgrowthstrategy #BusinessGrowth2025 Rajib Chakravorty Suchismit Ghosh Think As Consumer - Thinkasconsumer.com 😊 👍

PIECES OF CHINA – China’s manufacturing clusters : the hidden architecture of global supply chains When people think of “Made in China,” they often imagine one vast, uniform factory floor. The reality is more sophisticated. China’s manufacturing strength is built on a mosaic of industrial clusters : specialized regional ecosystems that dominate global supply chains in their niches. Understanding these clusters is key to understanding how China became the workshop of the world. ▫️ The Greater Bay Area – electronics powerhouse Shenzhen, Dongguan, and Guangzhou form the heart of global electronics manufacturing. This region hosts giants like Huawei, BYD, and DJI, alongside thousands of suppliers. What makes it powerful is not just scale, but integration : R&D, component supply, assembly, and logistics are all within hours of each other. ▫️ Yangtze River Delta – diversified and advanced Centered on Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang, this cluster is China’s most diversified. It leads in automotive, semiconductors, textiles, and green energy. Cities like Suzhou and Ningbo are known for advanced manufacturing and export orientation, while Shanghai adds finance, R&D, and logistics. ▫️ Bohai Rim – heavy industry and energy Around Beijing, Tianjin, and Shandong, the Bohai Rim cluster specializes in steel, petrochemicals, and shipbuilding. It remains central to China’s industrial base. Ports like Tianjin and Qingdao also anchor China’s northern trade flows. ▫️ Chengdu-Chongqing – the rise of inland manufacturing This region has emerged as China’s inland factory. Chengdu and Chongqing have attracted electronics giants like Foxconn, HP, and Dell. They offer lower costs, strong logistics links through China-Europe rail routes, and a large pool of young workers. This cluster reflects Beijing’s strategy to shift industry inland, balancing growth between coast and interior. ▫️ Specialized cities – the “single-product capitals” Beyond the big clusters, hundreds of Chinese cities specialize in single industries. Yiwu in Zhejiang is the world’s hub for small commodities. Shunde in Guangdong leads in furniture. Quanzhou in Fujian is known for shoes. These “single-product capitals” may seem small, but together they underpin global supply chains for everyday goods. ▫️ Why it matters These clusters are the result of decades of policy, infrastructure investment, and local entrepreneurship. China’s clusters deliver unmatched scale and speed but they also create structural reliance. A disruption in one region, whether from policy shifts or natural disasters, can ripple through entire industries worldwide. 💡 My Piece of Advice: Don’t think of China’s manufacturing as one big factory. Think of it as a network of clusters, each with its own strengths, specializations, and risks. For any business tied to global supply chains, mapping these clusters is very important. _____________ #PiecesofChina #SupplyChain #IndustrialClusters