Gandhinagar: Making a decisive push towards generating investment to see the success of his ‘Make in India’ mantra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said yesterday his government was trying to revive the economy, and told global investors that India today was a land of opportunities
“In a short span of seven months, we have been able to change the atmosphere of despair and uncertainty,” Modi told the seventh Vibrant Gujarat summit here attended by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as well as ministers and corporate leaders from 100 countries.
“Since the first day, my government is actively working to revive the economy,” he told the gathering which included US Secretary of State John Kerry and World Bank President Jim Yong Kim.
The summit, held at the impressive Mahatma Mandir convention centre, spread over a 55-acre complex comprising conference venues, exhibition halls and landscaped gardens, in the Gujarat capital, saw the biggest participation from other countries this time.
Modi said there was tremendous interest in India, and “countries were coming forward to work with us. Today, India is a land of opportunities”.
Modi, who till 2013 used to seek investment for Gujarat where he was then the chief minister, urged countries, businesses and investors to be part of India’s growth story. “My government is committed to create a policy environment that is predictable, transparent and fair.”
Modi, speaking dominantly in English, went on: “We will have to change the way we have been approaching problems. Recession is often seen just in the context of business and industry. “Have we ever thought of recession as being the result of low per capita income in countries where a majority of global population lives? “Have we ever thought of its solution in terms of enhancing the common man’s employability, income and purchasing power?
He said his government was committed to changing and improving the economic and social condition of India, including the quality of life.
“We want to promote co-operative federalism in the country. At the same time, we want a competitive element among the states.”
Modi said: “This event is perhaps the biggest gathering on earth where a budding entrepreneur has opportunity to see the president of the World Bank. “And where a young farmer can listen to the views of the UN secretary general on issues like food security. “Your (world leaders’) presence today has enhanced the enterprising streak of 60 million Gujaratis and has boosted the morale of 1.2 billion Indians,” he added.
IANS
GANDHINAGAR: There could be progress on US-India civil nuclear cooperation, solar power and climate change when US President Barack Obama visits India in two weeks, US officials said yesterday.
While stressing there were no guarantees that some of the most vexing economic issues between India and the United States would be resolved, the officials said some agreements were conceivable.
“We are working on the civil nuclear liability issue,” a senior State Department official told reporters travelling with US Secretary of State John Kerry to the home state of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“The goal is to have very concrete and tangible things that we can show forward movement on when President Obama and Prime Minister Modi meet, including on climate change,” he said.
Obama’s visit to India and trips by Kerry and other US senior officials aim to woo India as a strategic partner and to win greater access to the vast Indian market of 1.2 billion people for US companies.
US officials have long argued that Indian policies are a barrier to US investment and trade, including its tariff and customs practices and its requirements that foreign companies in some industries ensure a given percentage of local content.
Asked where Washington and New Delhi might make headway in time for Obama’s visit, the senior US official also cited the solar industry and finding a way to address US concerns about the liability from building nuclear power plants in India.
Under a 2010 nuclear liability law, equipment suppliers are liable for damages from an accident, which companies say deviates from international norms that put the onus on the operator to maintain safety.
Reuters
