The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed the Economic Times World Leaders Forum in New Delhi today. 

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that wonderful discussions would have taken place at the Economic Times World Leaders Forum for the bright future of the country and underlined that these discussions are happening at a time when the world has its trust in India.  

The Prime Minister remarked that India is writing a new success story today and the impact of reforms can be witnessed through the performance of the economy. He emphasized that India has at times performed better than expectations. The Prime Minister pointed out that India’s economy grew 90 percent during the last 10 years while the global economy grew 35 percent. He credited this to achieving sustained growth as promised and assured that it will continue in the future.

Highlighting the all-round changes brought about by the government for the betterment of the people in the past years, the Prime Minister stated that the efforts have touched upon the lives of crores of citizens. “It is the Government’s resolve to deliver good governance to the people”, PM Modi said, “Reform, Perform and Transform has been our mantra.” The Prime Minister said that the people of India have witnessed the government’s spirit of service and the achievements of the country in the past 10 years. Therefore, the Prime Minister said, the people of India are filled with new beliefs. Belief in themselves, the progress of the nation, policies, decisions and intentions of the government, he added. Throwing light on the elections taking place in different parts of the world, the Prime Minister stated that people have voted for change in most cases, while governments of several countries had to face difficulties. On the contrary, he said that Indian voters for the first time in 60 years gave a hattrick to any government. The Prime Minister reiterated that the aspirational youth and the women of India have voted for continuity, political stability and economic growth as he thanked them for their support. 

“India's progress is becoming part of global headlines”, underlined the Prime Minister. Although statistics have their own importance, Shri Modi remarked that it was equally relevant to see how many lives have been transformed. He added that the secret of India’s future is hidden in the latter. “25 crore people have moved out of poverty in the last decade and have created a Neo-Middle Class”, emphasized Shri Modi. He further added that the speed and scale of this was historic and had never happened in any democratic society in the world previously. Shri Modi explained that this change was possible due to a change in the Government’s approach towards the poor. He added that despite having aspirations and fighting spirit, the poor faced many obstacles like a lack of basic facilities. The Prime Minister remarked that the Government chose the avenue of empowerment of the poor by removing their obstacles and supporting them. This path, he said, had led to the transformation of the lives of the poor with benefits such as digital transactions and guarantee-free loans. He added that today many poor are becoming entrepreneurs and with the help of connectivity and devices, they are now becoming ‘better-informed citizens’. Shri Modi emphasized that the people who are moving out of poverty have a strong desire for progress and their aspirations have led to the development of new infrastructure. He added that while their creativity was carving out new paths of innovation, their skills were shaping the direction of the industry, their needs were shaping the direction of the market and their income growth was boosting demand in the market. “The neo-middle class of India is proving to be the biggest force for the country's progress”, praised Shri Modi. 

Recalling the day of the election results when the Prime Minister had spoken about working at three times the pace in the government’s third term, he assured that the intentions are even stronger today. He underlined that the government, just like citizens, is filled with new beliefs and hope. Noting that the government’s third term is yet to complete 100 days, PM Modi highlighted the emphasis on modernizing physical infrastructure, expanding social infrastructure and carrying forward with reforms. In the last 3 months, the Prime Minister said, the government has taken many big decisions for the poor, youth, women and farmers. Listing the recent achievements, the Prime Minister mentioned 3 crore pucca houses for the poor, Unified Pension Scheme, 1 lakh crore fund for expansion of agricultural infrastructure, launch of better quality variants of multiple seeds for farmers, PM Package worth Rs 2 lakh crore which directly benefits more than 4 crore youth, and 11 lakh new Lakhpati Didis from rural backgrounds. Referring to Lakhpati Didi program, Shri Modi said that it has played a huge role in the financial empowerment of women. 

Prime Minister Modi mentioned visiting Palghar in Maharashtra yesterday to lay the foundation stone for Vadhvan Port worth more than Rs 75,000 crore. He also spoke about the decision to develop 12 new industrial cities with an investment of Rs 30,000 crore three days ago, construction of 9 high-speed corridors worth more than Rs 50,000 crore and expansion of Pune, Thane and Bangalore Metro with Rs 30,000 crore. He informed that the construction of one of the world's highest tunnels has started in Ladakh.

The Prime Minister mentioned marking a significant milestone in India's infrastructure development by flagging off three new Vande Bharat trains today. Emphasizing the transformative approach of the government, he stated, “For us, infrastructure is not just about increasing the length, width, and height; it is a means to improve the ease of living for the citizens of India.” The Prime Minister highlighted the evolution of Indian Railways, noting that while train coaches have always been built. He said that modern trains like Vande Bharat have been introduced which offer both speed and comfort. “The launch of these new trains is part of a broader vision to revolutionize the country’s transport infrastructure, aligning with the needs of a rapidly modernizing nation”, he said. 

Expanding on the government's commitment to upgrading the country’s connectivity, Shri Modi remarked, “Roads were built in the country before, but we are laying down a network of modern expressways across India.” He further elaborated on the efforts to enhance air connectivity, particularly in smaller cities and explained that airports existed before, but the government is connecting tier-2 and tier-3 cities with air connectivity and bringing the benefits of modern transport to all corners of India.

The Prime Minister also spoke about the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, which aims to break the silos in government departments and create a unified, coordinated approach to infrastructure development. “These efforts are generating significant employment opportunities and are having a profound positive impact on our economy and industry,” he said, underscoring the broader economic benefits of the government's initiatives.

Looking forward, Shri Modi declared that the third decade of the 21st century is like a lift-off decade for India. He stressed the collective responsibility in driving this momentum, ensuring that the benefits of development reach all citizens across the nation. Addressing stakeholders from India’s economy and the private sector, he emphasized the pillars that will drive India’s progress towards becoming a developed nation, noting, “These pillars are not only the foundation of India's prosperity but also pillars of global prosperity.” As India continues to see an increase in opportunities across various sectors, the Prime Minister reaffirmed the government's support for all initiatives that contribute to the country's long-term vision. He expressed the need to take a giant leap and said that the government is working on a long-term vision

“Making India a global manufacturing hub is the aspiration of every Indian”, underlined Shri Modi. He added that this was also the expectation of the world from India and today a revolution was in force in the country towards this. The Prime Minister highlighted that today MSMEs were getting the much-needed support in the country as compared to the past. Listing the initiatives undertaken, Shri Modi said that plug-and-play industrial parks and economic corridors were being built while the production of critical minerals was being promoted. He further added that the success which PLI schemes have achieved in India was unprecedented.

Recounting the period before slavery, the Prime Minister said that a major basis of India's prosperity was our knowledge system, which is also an important pillar of developed India. He emphasized that the government is making industry and academia partners to make India a hub of skill, knowledge, research and innovation. Shri Modi further added that a lot of emphasis has been given to this in this year's budget, which was reflected in the research fund of Rs 1 lakh crore. Highlighting the huge amounts of money spent on studying abroad by children of middle-class families, Shri Modi said the Government was taking measures such as opening campuses of top foreign universities in India to help people from excessive expenditure. Shri Modi emphasized that about 1 lakh new MBBS-MD seats were created in the last decade as compared to 80 thousand in the first 7 decades after independence. He also reminisced about the announcement made during this year’s Independence Day speech of creating 75 thousand new medical seats in the next 5 years. This, he said, would make India a crucial center of health and wellness in the world in the near future.

Prime Minister Modi outlined the nation’s commitment to becoming the ‘Global Food Basket’ and emphasized the goal stating the government’s resolve that every dining table in the world should have at least one food product made in India. To realize this vision, the Prime Minister said, the government is simultaneously promoting organic and natural farming practices, along with enhancing the quality of India’s dairy and seafood products. Reflecting on India’s recent achievements, Shri Modi highlighted the global celebration of the International Year of Millets, initiated by India. "Who is the largest producer of millets in the world? It’s India," he proudly noted, emphasizing the superfood’s dual benefits for both nature and progress. The Prime Minister expressed his satisfaction with India’s growing presence among the top global food brands, signifying the country’s rising stature in the food industry.

Shifting focus to another crucial pillar of Viksit Bharat, the Prime Minister underscored the importance of the green energy sector. He threw light on India’s success at the G-20 where the Green Hydrogen Initiative received support from all countries and further announced India’s ambitious target to develop a capacity for producing 5 million tons of green hydrogen by 2030, along with generating 500 gigawatts of renewable energy by the same year.

Prime Minister Modi underscored the role of tourism as a strong pillar of India’s growth, alongside technology, which has already accelerated the nation’s progress. “India is striving to become the top destination for tourists across all segments worldwide,” he declared, emphasizing the ongoing efforts to enhance India’s historical and cultural sites and develop small beaches. He also highlighted the ‘Dekho Apna Desh, People’s Choice’ campaign, where citizens are voting to identify India’s top tourist destinations which will then be developed in mission mode. “This initiative will generate significant employment opportunities,” he added.

The Prime Minister also emphasized the importance of inclusive global development, particularly for the Global South. Reflecting on India’s G-20 Presidency, he stated, “India amplified the voice of the Global South and helped empower our African friends.” He envisioned a future where the Global South holds the greatest potential, with India acting as a voice for these nations in the spirit of global brotherhood. “We seek a world order that ensures inclusive development for all, especially the Global South,” he asserted.

Recognizing the dynamic nature of the world, Shri Modi highlighted the adaptability of the Indian government’s policies and strategies. “Our focus is on the future. We are preparing the country today for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow,” he said, citing initiatives like the Green Hydrogen Mission, Quantum Mission, Semiconductor Mission, and Deep Ocean Mission. The Prime Minister spoke about the government’s recent allocation of Rs 1,000 crores to boost space technology, emphasizing, “Today’s India is a land of opportunities, and we believe the future of India will be even brighter”, he added. 

In his concluding remarks, Prime Minister Modi reiterated India’s resolve to become Viksit Bharat by 2047. He encouraged all citizens and stakeholders to actively participate in this journey and expressed his keenness to see more companies in India becoming global brands. “We want India to lead in every sector worldwide”, he said. He assured, “We promise to facilitate, reform and provide a stable policy regime and growth. You should promise to innovate, perform, create positive disruptions and focus on high quality.” Urging everyone to think big and collaborate in writing India’s success stories, he said, “Today’s India respects wealth creators. A prosperous India can pave the way for global prosperity. He urged to remember the mantras of innovation, inclusion and international cooperation and appealed to every Indian living in the country and abroad, “Let’s walk this path together, for in India’s prosperity lies the prosperity of the world.” He concluded by expressing confidence that this goal can be achieved. 

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