30th CII PARTNERSHIP SUMMIT 2025: Technology, Trust and Trade

Amid global economic uncertainties, India continues to position itself as one of the fastest-growing major economies over the next two years. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), India’s economy is expected to grow by 6.2% in 2025 and 6.3% in 2026, maintaining a solid lead over global and regional peers, while becoming a leader for collaborative growth in the global south.

In the wake of a rapidly evolving geoeconomic landscape, the 30th CII Partnership Summit, organized by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in partnership with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, is gearing up to take place in Visakhapatnam from 14–15 November.

This year, CII and DPIIT along with the Partner State of Andhra Pradesh will leverage the platform to foster dialogue, collaboration, and global business partnerships for a shared and prosperous future.

The summit will focus on seven key tracks designed to correspond to the key areas of interest within the larger theme of ‘Technology, Trust, and Trade’.

Over the years, the CII Partnership Summit has become a reputable platform for discussions that have helped elevate India’s commercial relationship with different countries and provided a key gateway for Indian businesses to access global markets. The technical sessions, sectoral tracks, B2B and B2G meetings have become instrumental in defining trade relations, policy frameworks, as well as economic growth of the country. This year’s Partnership Summit is even more significant as Andhra Pradesh is one of the leading states in India in terms of economic contribution. With the new GST reforms, there has been widespread relief, competitiveness, as well as a boost to the automobiles, pharmaceuticals, renewables, fishing, dairy farming, and auto industry of the state. It is expected that the Partnership Summit will not only help strengthen the export potential of the state but also help it sustain diverse livelihoods by easing the burden on households. Andhra Pradesh stands as a dynamic hub of both traditional and modern industries, aligning Swarna Andhra Vision 2047 with India’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Track 1: Trade

India starts at a pivotal moment in its economic journey to become a global trade and investment hub. The track on trade aims to create and develop resilient global value chains (GVCs) to influence the future of the global trading order. Shifts in both regional and multilateral value chains due to geopolitical and geoeconomic changes puts India on a fast track to become a critical global and resilient partner in the trade arena.

Track 2: Future of Industrialization

With the emergence of Industry 5.0 and advanced technologies like automation and artificial intelligence, productivity in industries has undergone a significant change. To capitalize on this technology-led economic transition, there is a need to implement industrial reforms that are both forward-looking as well as not disruptive. India, with its advancements in manufacturing, smart logistics, green energy, and data-driven governance can truly change the ecosystem for Industry 5.0.

Track 3: Technology and Innovation

India through its innovative technology like Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) has become a global leader in transforming financial accessibility and settlement within and between nation-states. Expansion of DPI through UPI to significant bilateral trading partners can help India compete globally in advanced and front-chain technologies. The track will also involve discussions on investing significantly in enhancing capacity for research and development (R&D) initiatives, like artificial intelligence and automation.

Track Four: Geo-Economic Framework

The world is increasingly becoming multipolar with the development of new growth sectors. In turn, the World 2.0 will not only define geopolitical dynamics, geo-economic environment, but also pose great disruptions in the short run and changes in global supply chains in the longer term. India and other nations should use this moment to examine actionable strategies for safeguarding national and corporate interests while fostering inclusive growth and global stability.

Track 5: Sustainability and Climate Action

As climate change continues to pose a significant threat in the global economic system, financing climate action has become a critical topic of discussion. The track will focus on encouraging recycling initiatives, green jobs, and other global initiatives that will promote climate action that are inclusive of the global south. It will also discuss how policies like the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) need to be revised to incorporate and form partnerships with businesses from the Global South and promote sustainable development rather than weaponizing climate policy to weaken global markets.

Track 6: Growth

Changes in supply shocks due to regional conflicts have compelled governments, industries, and central banks to navigate a new growth trajectory within a high inflation and interest rate environment. This economic rebalancing provides the global financial ecosystem to be more inclusive of regional and neglected economies.

Track 7: Inclusion

Without inclusive development and incorporation of marginalized groups, the global economic system is bound to fail. The global economic system should provide significant priority on inclusive international development that will shape the future of education, employment, entrepreneurship, and employability. Here, industries and governments can take cue from countries like India to promote skill development, upskilling and reskilling workers into higher value industries. The track will also focus on gender equity in Industry 5.0. 

Conclusion

With a broad spectrum of discussions on the evolving global order, the CII Partnership Summit 2025 holds critical importance for India. It marks a pivotal moment in the nation’s journey towards becoming a USD 5 trillion economy, while reinforcing its dual role as both a manufacturing hub and a dynamic consumer market. As Industry takes center stage in building Viksit Bharat, its partnership will shape the future trajectory of trade, investment, and sustainable growth.

For more details and to register for the upcoming summit in Andhra Pradesh, visit: https://partnershipsummit.com/