Launching his government’s ambitious project to make India a manufacturing hub, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday promised effective and easy governance to help achieve high growth and creation of jobs.
Kicking off the “Make in India” campaign, he said his government’s focus will be on physical infrastructure creation as well as creating a digital network for making India a hub for global manufacturing of goods ranging from cars to softwares, satellites to submarines and paper to power.
“I do not only talk about good governance. I talk about effective governance and easy governance,” he said launching the ‘Make in India’ campaign that was attended by a galaxy of industrialists and business leaders, including Cyrus Mistry, Mukesh Ambani, Azim Premji, Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chanda Kocchar and Y C Deveshwar.
Calling upon domestic and international companies to invest in India, the Prime Minister said his government’s focus was not only to ‘Look East’ but also to ‘Link West’.
“We want highways. We also want i-ways – information ways for a Digital India,” Modi said, adding “Make in India is not a slogan, not an invitation”.
Recalling the scenario of last two-three years where “companies were looking to move out of country”, he said three months of the NDA government has reversed the mood with its focus on easing the process of doing business in the country.
“Government is committed to development. This is not a political agenda, but an article of faith,” he said while stressing on public-private partnership as well as skill development for increasing share of manufacturing in GDP.
Modi said the world is ready to come to Asia and India offers best destination as it is a vibrant democracy with demographic dividend and huge demand.
Modi said the ‘Make in India campaign is a Lions Step’ towards making the country a destination for global manufacturing.
“We don’t have to tell the world our address, there will be a Vasco da Gama in every nook and corner,” he said.
Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said series of measures have been taken on ease of doing business and that the government was fully committed to de-licensing, deregulating and taking India to high growth trajectory.
Speaking on the occasion, Tata Group Chairman Cyrus Mistry stressed on the need to reform labour laws. He said the Group was fully committed to investing in India.
