Jamshyd Godrej, Managing Director of Godrej & Boyce and Chairman and Managing Director of Godrej Enterprises, has consistently emphasized the critical need for economic reforms and resilience in the face of global disruptions. Speaking on various occasions, including the Visionary Leaders for Manufacturing (VLFM) program, Godrej welcomed the Goods and Services Tax (GST) as 'long overdue,' despite acknowledging initial challenges posed by political compulsions and an excessive number of rates upon its introduction.

While recognizing the progress made with GST, Godrej later articulated a more nuanced view, stating that mere rate cuts would be insufficient to stimulate economic demand. He stressed the necessity for 'big bang reforms' and significant deregulation across all sectors to foster private capital expenditure, drawing a comparison to the sweeping reforms of 1991 that liberalized India's economy. He considered recent GST adjustments, such as moving goods to 5% and 18% tax slabs and some to a 40% 'sin' tax, as mere 'rate rationalization.' Furthermore, Godrej expressed skepticism about the efficacy of income tax rebates (for those earning up to ₹12 lakh) in boosting consumption, suggesting that the savings might instead be used for debt repayment. Despite his reservations, top industry leaders, including Mukesh D. Ambani, hailed the recent GST changes – which saw cuts for packaged food, personal care staples, and appliances like refrigerators and air-conditioners – as a 'big booster to consumption-driven growth.'

A significant focus of Godrej's advocacy is the Visionary Leaders for Manufacturing (VLFM) program, a flagship Indo-Japan initiative with a rich history of international collaboration. He specifically thanked Professor Shoji Shiba and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for their enduring support in nurturing the program in India, noting strengthened efforts through an MoU between the Indian and Japanese governments. Godrej highlighted that the VLFM initiative has successfully trained approximately 1,300 senior managers, instilling the vital quality of resilience needed to thrive amidst 'exponential disruption.' The program is viewed not merely as a CII initiative but as a national mission aimed at developing leaders who can transform India into a global manufacturing hub.

Echoing the theme of resilience and collaboration, Takuro Takeuchi, JICA India's new Chief Representative, underscored the paramount importance of trust and strong relationships in both international relations and the business world. He observed that while the external global landscape is constantly changing, fundamental principles remain constant. Takeuchi emphasized the difficulty of maintaining trust in the international arena during an age of geopolitics, making the enduring India-Japan relationship a time-tested example of steadfastness, a value reinforced by the VLFM program.