ICEMA Human Capital Summit 2026 eyes future-ready workforce for Indian Construction Equipment Industry

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Reaffirming the Construction Equipment industry’s commitment to building globally competitive talent capabilities, the Indian Construction Equipment Manufacturers’ Association (ICEMA), with support from the Ministry of Heavy Industries, successfully organised the 3rd CE Human Capital Summit at Hotel Le Meridien, New Delhi, under the theme “Shaping the Workforce of Tomorrow for the Evolving Construction Equipment Industry – Skill | Productivity | Technology | Innovation.”

The Summit commenced with a high-powered session, “CE Workforce from CEOs’ Lens,” with CE industry leaders including Deepak Shetty, President, ICEMA and CEO & Managing Director, JCB India Ltd.;  V.Vivekanand, Managing Director, Caterpillar India Pvt. Ltd.; Dimitrov Krishnan, Managing Director, Volvo CE India Pvt. Ltd.; and Deepak Garg, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, SANY Heavy Industry India Pvt. Ltd. The session highlighted the strategic importance of talent, leadership and continuous learning in driving the next phase of industry growth.

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A unique highlight of the Summit was the special session with Gen Z, “Young Voices, Big Ideas: Shaping the Future of Work in the CE Industry,” which brought together young professionals and senior HR leaders to discuss changing workplace expectations, career aspirations and the role of purpose-driven organizations in attracting and nurturing the next generation of talent.

Cross-industry insights on creating resilient and future-ready organizations were shared during a fireside chat with HR leaders from the automotive sector, underscoring the increasing convergence of talent strategies across manufacturing sectors.

The industry leaders deliberated on the impact of emerging technologies, digital transformation, evolving skill requirements and the imperative of fostering a culture of continuous learning to build a globally competitive workforce.

The day concluded with an inspiring keynote by legendary Indian hockey goalkeeper and former national coach Ranjan Negi, who shared powerful lessons on resilience, leadership and teamwork, drawing parallels between sports and organizational excellence.

He said “Champions are not defined by the setbacks they face, but by their ability to rise above them. Whether in sports or business, success is built on trust, discipline, teamwork and the courage to keep moving forward despite adversity. Great teams are created when individuals unite around a common purpose and inspire each other to achieve excellence.”

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The 3rd CE Human Capital Summit reinforced the Indian Construction Equipment industry’s collective resolve to create a skilled, inclusive and innovation-driven workforce ecosystem that will not only support India’s infrastructure-led growth but also strengthen the country’s position as a global hub for manufacturing excellence.

Speaking on the occasion, Deepak Shetty, President, ICEMA and CEO & Managing Director, JCB India Ltd., said: “India’s aspiration of becoming a global manufacturing powerhouse and achieving world-class infrastructure standards will require equally world-class human capital. As technology and innovation redefine the Construction Equipment industry, our greatest differentiator will continue to be our people”

Shetty said, “Through initiatives such as the CE Human Capital Summit, ICEMA is committed to fostering a culture of continuous learning, leadership development and collaboration to build a workforce that is skilled, agile and future-ready. India has a deep pool of talent. We must create opportunities that power India’s growth and let Indian talent shine globally.”

Vivekanand, Convener, ICEMA Human Capital Panel and Managing Director, Caterpillar India Pvt. Ltd., said: “Human capital is at the heart of the Construction Equipment industry’s transformation journey. Preparing the workforce of tomorrow calls for deeper collaboration between industry, academia and policymakers, and a shared commitment to developing future-ready talent. The CE Human Capital Summit has evolved into an important platform for shaping these conversations and driving meaningful action.”