The Union Minister for Commerce and Industry has said  that India has the largest number of financial transactions digitally compared to any other part of the world.  He said that last month alone,  six hundred crore  digital financial transactions were done in the country. 

Talking to media persons in Bengaluru today,   the Minister expressed  hope that the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) initiative of the Union Government will give a new impetus to the goods and service sector.   

ONDC is intended to promote open networks for all aspects of the exchange of goods and services over digital or electronic networks. Shri Goyal clarified that the Government initiative seeks to take on board all e-commerce entities adding more merchants and products. The initial test undertaken in Bengaluru has yielded positive results. Small entrepreneurs and sellers would benefit the most, the Minister added.

Shri Piyush Goyal said that Startups  will change  the destiny of modern India in 25 years.  The Minister underlined the need for an element of competition in startup ventures along with public-private participation on a larger scale.  
Shri Piyush Goyal was delivering key-note address at the two-day workshop on Startups and Entrepreneurship: Vision India @2047  which began in Bengaluru today.  

The Minister pointed out that the startup sector had registered phenomenal growth over the past nine years.  Shri Goyal expressed hope that the workshop  would deliberate upon how we can go fast forward and get into a mission mode. 

Leading entrepreneurs are attending the programme  which will deliberate  on different aspects of startups and their contribution to economic growth of the country.

Today's  sessions included  those on Technologies of the Future: Startups as Building Blocks of Shaping the Story of New India, Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) and Building a Future of Studentpreneurs and G20 Vision for Startups.

There will be discussions on Innovation for Sustainable Development, Building Gender-sensitive Startup Culture and Technology as an Enabler for Inclusive Innovation tomorrow.

Shri Piyush Goyal who arrived in Bengaluru this  morning on a two-day visit will also attend the Bengaluru Tech Summit and the virtual launch of 'CA Startups.org this  evening.

Tomorrow evening,  Shri Piyush Goyal will give key-note  at the valedictory function of the workshop and attend the Startups Award ceremony before leaving Bengaluru.

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