New Delhi
Addressing the 96th annual general meeting and convention of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in New Delhi, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh urged business leaders to collaborate closely with the government in shaping the 21st century as India’s defining era. Singh emphasized India’s emergence as a global growth engine, attributing this success to the concerted efforts of over one billion Indians under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
Singh elucidated the concept of a growth engine, defining it as a force propelling and fostering economic development. He noted that in the global landscape, a country becomes a growth engine when its economy is substantial enough to catalyze the growth of other nations. Singh highlighted India’s current status as the fastest-growing major economy, asserting its positive impact on global growth.
The Defence Minister underscored the government’s commitment to sustainable development, emphasizing initiatives such as the Paris Agreement, the International Solar Alliance, and efforts to promote clean energy. He also addressed gender neutrality in economic growth, highlighting the government’s focus on empowering women across various sectors, including the Armed Forces. Singh outlined the decentralization of activities to promote growth in remote areas, citing the PM Gati Shakti Yojana as a means to connect disparate regions. He enumerated significant infrastructure developments, showcasing the expansion of national highways, airports, and railways. Reiterating the government’s commitment to inclusive development, Singh emphasized the compatibility of economic growth with distributive justice. He highlighted the importance of human resources in economic progress, citing interventions such as the new National Education Policy, the establishment of universities, IITs, and IIMs, and a dedicated Ministry of Skill Development.
