India would play a leading role in the global revival, prime minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday, as he addressed the inaugural session of India Global week via video-conference.
He said that this is closely linked with two factors. “First is - Indian talent and second is India's ability to reform and rejuvenate.” He elaborated that world over, the contribution of India's talent force is highly recognised, especially the contribution of the Indian tech industry and tech professionals.
He described India as a power house of talent that is eager to contribute. He added that Indians are natural reformers and history has shown that India has overcome every challenge, be it social or economic.
He said that when India talks of revival it is: “Revival with care, Revival with compassion, Revival which is sustainable - both for the environment and the economy.” The PM listed the gains made during the last six years of his regime such as total financial inclusion, record housing and infra construction, improving Ease of Doing Business, bold tax reforms including the GST.
The green shoots of economic recovery could already be seen as owing to the indomitable Indian spirit, he said, adding that technology today helps the government every benefit to the beneficiaries directly, including, providing free cooking gas, cash in the bank accounts, free food grains to millions of people and many other things.
The PM said India is one of the most open economies in the world and is inviting all the multinational companies to set up their business in India. He described India as a land of many possibilities and opportunities.
Modi described the various reforms initiated in the agriculture sector and said that it provides a very attractive investment opportunity for the global industry. He said that the latest reforms are providing a boost to the MSME sector and that they would be complimenting the big industry. He also mentioned that there are investment opportunities in the defence sector and the space sector.
The PM said that Covid-19 has once again shown that the capability of India's pharma industry. “The pandemic has once again shown that India's pharma industry is an asset not just for India but for the entire world. It has played a leading role in reducing the cost of medicines especially for developing countries. Vaccines made in India are responsible for two-thirds of the vaccination needs of the world's children. Today also, our companies are active in the international efforts for development and production of Covid-19 vaccine. I am certain that India will have an important role in developing and in scaling-up production of the vaccine once it is discovered.”
He said that the ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’ campaign is not about being self-contained or being closed to the world but about being self-sustaining and self-generating. “This is an India that is reforming, performing and transforming. This is an India that offers new economic opportunities. This is an India that is adopting a human-centric and inclusive approach to development. India awaits you all,” he said.
He expressed happiness that the Forum, organized by India Inc Group with the audience mostly in the UK, was also marking the 100th birth anniversary of Pandit Ravi Shankar, who took the beauty of Indian classical music to the world. He also highlighted how Namaste has gone global as a form of greeting. He said that India is ready to do whatever it can to further global good and prosperity.
