New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today called upon the industry leaders to make India an exporter of all products which it is currently forced to import, reiterating his ‘Make in India’ mantra for an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India).
The PM was delivering the inaugural address of the 95th annual plenary session of the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) via video conferencing. “We must all work towards making India an exporter of all products which it is currently forced to import,” he said.
Addressing the Indian Chamber of Commerce. Watch. https://t.co/5vc5Vtg7E2
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 11, 2020
Appreciating the efforts of small traders, he said that when we buy local produce from them, we are not just paying them for their goods and services, but are rewarding their contributions.
“Now it is time to make each village, district of the country self-reliant.” he said and called for pulling the Indian economy out of ‘command and control’ mode and taking it towards ‘plug and play’ mode.
He said it is time for bold decisions and bold investments, to prepare a globally competitive domestic supply chain and not for conservative approaches.
“Goal of self-reliance has been paramount in the policy and practice of the country and now the Corona pandemic has taught us a lesson on how to speed it up. “It is from this lesson – Aatma Nirbhar Bharat campaign has started,” he said.
Quoting Swami Vivekananda, he said, “the simplest method to be worked upon at present is to induce Indians to use their own produce and get markets for Indian products in other countries”, adding that the path shown by the monk is an inspiration for India in post-COVID world.
The PM also listed the major reforms announced under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat campaign like expanding the scope of definition of MSMEs, arranging special funds to support MSMEs, decisions related to IBC, creation of Project Development Cells for fast-tracking of investments.
Apart from that, Modi also said that India should convert the COVID-19 crisis into a “turning point” towards becoming a self-reliant nation.
He further said that he has immense confidence in India’s crisis management capability and in the talent of the country’s farmers, entrepreneurs and the many MSMEs.
In his address, the PM also congratulated the ICC for successfully completing 95 years. “You all have served the nation for 95 years… that in itself is a tremendous achievement for any institution. Over the decades, whoever has been a part of, and contributed to the nation through the ICC, I extend my best wishes and congratulations to you all.”
