I
welcome you all to the Vibrant Gujarat Summit. I also wish you a very happy,
prosperous and successful new year. I fondly recall the
modest launch of this event in 2003. Since then it has been a very successful journey.
I
express my gratitude to the partner countries and organisations – a list which
includes Japan, Canada, USA, UK,
Netherlands, Australia, Denmark, France, Poland, Sweden, Singapore and UAE. I
particularly thank the initial partner countries of the Vibrant Gujarat event: Japan
and Canada.
Many
other prestigious global organisations and networks are also partners of this
event. I thank you all for this partnership. Your presence is a source of motivation
for business leaders as well as young entrepreneurs gathered
here. Without your support,
this event could not have seen eight biennial chapters; each
better and bigger than the earlier one.
The
last three events have been particularly big. The
presence of political and business leaders from more than 100 countries, and a large
number of organisations from around the world make this a truly global event.
I
would urge the participants to reach out to each other and to derive the
greatest benefit from this summit. You
should also visit the trade show and the exhibition where
hundreds of companies have showcased their products and processes.
Gujarat,
the land of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel, also represents the business
spirit of India. Through the ages, it has led in commerce and enterprise. Centuries
ago, its people went across the seven seas in search of opportunities. Even
today, this state boasts of being the origin of the highest number of our people
living and working abroad. And wherever they have gone, they have created a
mini-Gujarat. We proudly say: ज्यां
ज्यां बसे एक
गुजराती,
त्यां त्यां
सदाकाल
गुजरात.
In other words, Wherever a Gujarati resides; there,
forever, resides Gujarat.
Gujarat
is currently in the midst of the Kite Festival. May the kites inspire us all to
fly high!
Friends!
As
I have often said India’s strength lies in the three Ds: Democracy,
Demography and Demand.
Our
biggest strength is the depth of our Democracy. Some people say that
democracy cannot deliver effective and fast track governance. But we have seen
in the last two and a half years that it is possible to
deliver quick results in a democratic set up as well.
Over
the last two and a half years, we have also evolved a culture of
healthy competition among states. States are being
rated on parameters of Good Governance. The
World Bank is helping us in this process.
Coming to Demography, ours
is a nation of vibrant youth. The disciplined, dedicated, and talented youth
of India offers a globally
unmatched work-force. We are the second largest
English speaking country. Our youth are
not merely looking for jobs. They
have begun taking risks and often prefer to become Entrepreneurs.
On the Demand front, our
rising middle class offers a huge domestic market.
The
seas that surround the Indian peninsula,
connect us to some of the World’s Biggest markets, including Africa, the Middle
East and Europe.
Nature
has been kind to us. Our
three crop seasons enable us to grow food, vegetables and fruits in abundance.
The
diversity in our flora and fauna is unparalleled.
The richness of our culture and its living symbols is unique. Our Institutions
and scholars are recognised the world over. India is now an emerging R&D hub.
We produce the world’s second largest number of scientists and engineers.
Our entertainment industry is making waves
Worldwide. All this helps ensure a good quality of life, at relatively low
cost.
Friends!
Our
Government was elected first and foremost on the promise to provide clean
Governance and end the prevailing regime of Corruption and nepotism. It is our
vision and mission to bring a paradigm shift
in the ways of our polity and economy. We have taken a series of decisions and
steps in this direction. To give you some examples, we are bringing a
shift:
·
From relation based Governance to system
based Governance;
·
From discretionary administration
to policy based administration;
·
From random interference
to technological intervention;
·
From favouritism
to level playing field;
·
From Informal economy to formal economy.
In
doing this, digital Technology has played a key role. I have often said that
e-governance is easy and effective Governance. I have also emphasized the need
for policy driven Governance. Online processes help bring speed and openness in
decision making. Towards this end, we are working to adopt and absorb newer
technologies, to bring about transparency, and to end discretion. Believe me,
we are on the threshold of becoming the world’s most digitised economy. Most
of you wanted this change in India. I am proud to say that it is happening
before you.
Over
the last two and a half years, we have worked relentlessly to realise
India’s potential, and to set right the economy. The results have been
encouraging. There has been substantial improvement in key macro–economic
indicators like GDP growth, inflation, fiscal deficit, current account deficit
as well as foreign investments.
India
has become the fastest growing major economy in the world. Despite the global
slowdown, we have registered excellent growth.Today,
India is a bright spot in the Global Economy. We are seen as the engine of
global growth.
World
Bank, IMF and other institutions have projected even better growth in the
coming days. In 2014-15, India contributed 12.5 per cent of global growth. Its
contribution to global growth is sixty eight per cent higher, than its share of
the world economy.
Creating
an enabling environment for business, and attracting investments, is my top
priority. We have to do this in order to create opportunities for our youth. With
that spirit, we are moving towards implementation of some historic initiatives.
This includes the Goods and Services Tax.
The
Insolvency and bankruptcy Code, the National Company Law Tribunal, a new
arbitration framework and a new IPR regime are all in place. New commercial
courts have also been set up. These are just a few examples of the direction
in which we are going. My government is strongly committed to continue the reform
of the Indian Economy.
Friends!
We
have placed the highest eMphasis on Ease of Doing Business. We have taken
decisive steps to ease licensing processes, and rationalize provisions
and procedures relating to clearances, returns, and inspections. We
are monitoring implementation of hundreds of action points across various
sectors, aimed at improving the regulatory framework. This is part of our
promise of Good Governance.
The
outcomes of our efforts are visible in India’s
global rankings on various indicators. A
number of global reports and assessments over the last two years have shown
that India has improved its policies, practices and hence its economic profile.
India’s
rank has improved considerably, in the World Bank’s Doing Business Report.
India
is ranked third in the list of top prospective host
economies for 2016-18 in the World Investment Report 2016 released by UNCTAD.
Our
rank also improved by thirty two positions in World Economic Forum’s ‘Global
Competitiveness Report 2015-16 and 2016-17’;
We
have moved up sixteen ranks in the ‘Global Innovation Index 2016’ brought out
by WIPO and other institutions;
We
have moved up nineteen positions in the World Bank’s ‘logistics Performance
Index of 2016.’
You
can see that we are moving closer to global best practices. Day by day we are
getting more and more integrated with the world. Our confidence has been
boosted by the positive impact of our policies and
practices. This also gives us the motivation to further simplify our processes
to become the easiest place to do business.
Every
day, we are further rationalising our policies and procedures, to make it
simple for businesses to establish and grow.
We
have liberalised our FDI regime in many sectors and in various ways. India is
today among the most open economies.
This
change in environment has been recognized by both
domestic and foreign investors. An encouraging
Start-up eco-system is now taking shape in the country. This unleashing of the
youth power is heartening.
The
total FDI inflows in the last two and a half years have touched US
Dollars one hundred and thirty billion. The FDI equity inflow in the last
two Financial Years was sixty per cent higher as compared to previous two
financial years. In fact, the total FDI inflows received during the last year
have been the highest ever.
The
number of countries from where FDI is coming in, and the sectors in which they
are being routed have also diversified in the last two years. India is now the
leading recipient of capital investment in the Asia-Pacific. It also continues
to be among the top ten countries globally in terms of FDI inflows.
But
the story does not end here. India has left every other country behind in terms
of providing return on investment. In 2015, India has risen to first position
in the Baseline Profitability Index.
Friends!
Make
in India has become the biggest brand that India
has ever had. It is directed towards making India a
global hub for manufacturing, design and innovation.
मैं
साथियो ये
अनुभव करता
हूं, मैं
दुनिया में
जहां–जहां
गया; मैं अगर
पांच बार “Make In India” बोलता
था वहां तो Host country
लीडर
50
बार
“Make
in India” बोलते थे।
एक प्रकार से “Make in
India” ये दुनिया
की नजरों में
भारत को एक Investment का destination बना
चुका है। भारत
में राज्यों
के initiative, केंद्र
सरकार का
सहयोग, ये
संयुक्त
प्रयास “Make in India” के
लिए बहुत सारे
द्वार खोल
चुका है।
इस Opportunity का लाभ
हिन्दुस्तान
के राज्यों
के बीच में Competition पैदा
हो,
Healthy
Competition
हो और वो भी Good Governance and Eco-System
के
आधार पर हो। Competition पहले
भी हुआ करती
थी,
15 साल
पहले एक राज्य
दूसरे से ज्यादा
चीजें दे देता
था,
दूसरे
तीसरे से ज्यादा
देता था; देने
की स्पर्धा
होती थी, आखिर
अगर कोई नहीं
आता था लेकिन
जहां–जहां Good Governance को बल
दिया गया, जहां–जहां Proper Eco-System पैदा
किया गया, जहां–जहां Regulations को
ठीक किया गया, जहां–जहां Business Environment को Friendly बनाया
गया, वहां
पर अधिक
मात्रा में
दुनिया के
बाहर के लोग
भी आने लगे और
इसलिए “Make in India” या
दुनिया में
कहीं पर भी
समझाना पड़े
ऐसी स्थिति
नहीं है। और
मैं गुजरात
सरकार को
अभिनंदन करता
हूं, उन्होंने
अपनी Progressive नीतियों
के आधार पर Good Governance को
बल देते हुए Foreign Direct
Investment को
Attract करने
में बहुत ही
अग्रिमता
सिद्ध की है।
गुजरात सरकार
की पूरी टीम को
इसके लिए मैं
बहुत–बहुत बधाई
देता हूं।
‘Make
in India’ has celebrated its second anniversary
recently.
I
am delighted to share that we have become the sixth
largest manufacturing country in the world, up from ninth largest previously.
Our Gross Value Added in manufacturing has recorded a growth of nine per cent
in 2015-16. This is much higher than the five to six per cent growth in the
previous three years.
All
this is helping us expand the job market and raise the Purchasing Power of our
people. But the real potential is even higher.
To
give you a few examples: India’s Food Processing Industry is expected to
increase almost five fold in the next ten years. Similarly, India’s low vehicle
penetration makes it one of the world’s most attractive auto markets.
At
the Government level, we have to ensure that our growth process is inclusive
and embraces both rural and urban communities.
एक भारत ऐसा
देश है हम
गांव और शहर
के बीच संतुलित
विकास के पक्ष
में हैं।
हमारी
नीतियों का लाभ
गावं और शहर,
दोनों को समान
रूप से मिलना
चाहिए और
इसलिए हमारी
योजना की priority में
भी गांव को भी
उतना ही महात्मय
मिले, हर
विकास की
यात्रा का
अन्तिम Benefit गांव
गरीब किसान तक
पहुंचे, ये
हमारा priority का रहने के
कारण सारी
नीतियों के
केंद्र में उन
बातों को हमने
बल दिया है।
We
are committed to an India with:
·
Better job opportunities;
·
Better income;
·
Better purchasing power;
·
Better quality of life;
·
And better living standards.
Friends!
Our
Development needs are huge. Our development agenda is ambitious.
For instance:
·
We want to provide a roof over every
head;
हर
गरीब को घर
होना चाहिए और
अपना घर होना
चाहिए और 2022 तक
होना चाहिए,
ये सपना ले
करके हम चल
रहे हैं।
·
We want to provide jobs to every hand;
800 millions 35 से
कम age group के Indians जो एक
प्रकार से
युवा भारत है।
800 million
youth जिनकी
उम्र 35 thirty five से कम है,
इन हाथ में
हुनर हो, काम
का अवसर हो, तो
नया हिन्दुस्तान
हमारी आंखों
के सामने बना
करके खड़ा कर
देंगे, ये
विश्वास
हिन्दुस्तान
के नौजवानों
के प्रति मेरा
है, हम सबका है और
हम सबका जिम्मा
भी है कि उस
अवसर को हम
दें। और हम
अवसर दे सकते
हैं, संभावनाएं
भरपूर पड़ी
हैं।
·
We want to produce energy that is cleaner;
·
We want to build roads and railways faster;
·
We want mineral exploration to become greener;
·
We want to build urban amenities that
are sturdier
·
We want to see our quality of life getting
better and better
We
are taking a leap towards next generation Infrastructure: in both core and
social sectors; in both rural and urban areas. This
includes Freight Corridors, Industrial Corridors, High Speed and Metro Rail
projects, Logistics Parks, Smart Cities, Coastal Zones, regional airports, water,
sanitation and energy initiatives. Our per capita electricity consumption must
rise. Even as we do so, we are committed to promoting renewable energy.
We
are keen to promote tourism in a big way and this needs tourism infrastructure.
जब मैं renewable energy की
बात करता हूं Hundred Seventy Five
Giga Watt,
एक जमाना था
हम Megawatt की
चर्चा करते भी
डरते थे, आज
देश Giga Watt के सपने
देख रहा है।
ये बहुत बड़ा,
बहुत बड़ा बदलाव
है। Hundred Seventy Five Giga Watt renewable energy, Energy-mix जिसमें
Solar हो, Wind हो, Nuclear हो
और दुनिया जो Global Warming से
परेशान है, उस
विश्व को
बचाने का सपना
हमने भी देखा
है। और हम भी Hundred Seventy Five
Giga Watt के
Contribution
से
विश्व को Global Warming से
बचाने के उस संकल्प
को पूरा करने
में हिन्दुस्तान
अपनी नंबर एक
की भूमिका अदा
करने के लिए कृतसंकल्प
हो करके आगे
बढ़ रहा है, तो
मैं पूरे विश्व
को निमंत्रण
देता हूं आइए, Hundred Seventy Five
Giga Watt renewable energy के
क्षेत्र में Investment के
लिए Sky is the limit और हमारी Policies are very
progressive. और
मुझे विश्वास
है कि मानवता
का भी ये काम
है जीवन की
तरफ देखने का
एक दृष्टिकोण
बदलने का ये
अवसर है। हमने
दो शताब्दी Exploitation of Nature के
अंदर खपा दी
हैं। अब हमारा
दायित्व है
कि आने वाली
शताब्दियों
को Exploitation of Nature के हमारे
सोच में से
बाहर ला करके
हमारी Nature को Strengthen करने की Basic चीजों
को ले करके
चलना इसका
अवसर है। और
उस बात को ले
करके हम
चलेंगे तो हम
अवश्य ही
विश्व में एक
बड़े
परिवर्तन की
संभावनाओं
में बहुत बड़ी
अहम भूमिका
अदा कर सकते
हैं।
The
targets for construction of roads and laying of railways have been increased
manifold. India is going to emerge as one of the World’s Largest construction
markets as it adds millions of homes. All this offers unprecedented opportunities
for the investor community. Most of you can work with
us in a number of areas which include:
·
From hardware to software;
·
From soft skills to scientific temper
·
From defence systems to cyber Security
·
From Medicine to tourism;
I
daresay, that India alone offers the opportunities that could rival those of an
entire continent. It offers today, the possibilities of a full century. And we
want to do all this in a cleaner, greener and sustainable way. We are committed
to protect the environment and uphold our responsibility towards Nature. Ultimately,
this is what India has stood for since ages.
Welcome
to India:
·
The land of tradition and tranquillity;
·
The land of empathy and excitement;
·
The land of experiment and enterprise.
·
The land of openings and opportunities;
Once
again, I welcome you and invite you to be part of –
·
India of Today;
·
and India of Tomorrow.
I
assure you that I will be available to hold your hands whenever required.
Thank
You!
****
AKT/AK
