Gandhinagar: India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the inaugural session of the 7th edition of Vibrant Gujarat Summit Gandhinagar on Sunday.
“India is changing and growing fast and moving faster than expected and we should work together for progress, prosperity and peace. India offers you 3Ds — Democracy, Demography and Demand and this is what you are looking for. You will not find all of them together at any other destination of world. We have a large number of hands to work and even a larger number of dreams to be realised,” Modi said.
Trying to purge the perception that his government is high on rhetoric and low on deliverance Modi said, “My government not only makes announcement, but also works towards fulfilling the goals. We reconstituted planning commission as ‘Niti Ayog’ as we want to promote cooperative and Competitive federalism in country.”
“In a short span of 7 months we have been able to change the atmosphere of despair and uncertainty; we are working to revive the economy. We are backing our commitments with concrete action. I announced financial inclusion and in four months we have opened 100 million bank accounts. I announced modernisation of railways, and opened up 100% FDI in railway investment to lead this surge”, the prime minister said.
The International Monetary Fund has said India will be second fastest growing economy in coming years. Earlier, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim said, “We can be the first human generation which can eliminate extreme poverty and India should be the leader in eliminating poverty.”
Kimi said India’s economy is expected to grow at 6.4 per cent this year. Tax and subsidy reforms essential for inclusive growth and India has potential to be a leader in solar energy production, and the solar sector could be India’s key contribution towards fighting climate change. However, he cautioned that caste bias can hurt the progress of the country.
Addressing the summit, United Nations General Secretary Ban Ki Moon, who later in the day inaugurated India’s first 10 megawatt solar power station said, “I sincerely hope, all world and business leaders will be inspired by Mahatma Gandhi visions and teachings. I commend PM Narendra Modi’s smart cities initiative and vision of use of renewable energy efficiency. You are here to not only build industrial strength but sustainable inclusive solutions.”
US Secretary of State John Kerry, whose country is partnering the summit, said that “Gujarat is synonymous with energy, positivity.”
Expressing President Obama’s excitement to be the first sitting US President to visit India twice while in office and first to be the chief guest at India’s Republic Day Kerry urged the two countries to grab the incredible opportunities starting at the face.
“India and US have a common responsibility, common opportunity to prove that democracy can deliver to their citizens,” Kerry said.
“I am highly impressed by Prime Minister Modi’s slogan — ‘Participation of all, Development of all’. It sounds like a pretty good slogan for all of us to adopt. And if we adopt it, I think we can get the job done.”
