Prime Minister Modi emphasizes the global significance of India's growth
In a powerful statement during his visit to the United States, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized the significance of India's growth for the global community. In a high-profile address to the Joint Session of the US Congress on Friday (June 22, 2023), PM Modi highlighted the country's potential to drive global progress and foster cooperation on a worldwide scale. 'When I first visited the US as Prime Minister, India was the tenth largest economy in the world. Today, India is the fifth largest economy. And, India will be the third largest economy soon. We are not only growing bigger but we are also growing faster. When India grows, the whole world grows," Prime Minister Modi said. His visit to the United States aimed to strengthen diplomatic ties, explore mutual economic opportunities, and engage in meaningful discussions with global leaders. Addressing an enthusiastic audience, he underscored India's determination to contribute positively to the world's socio-economic development. He also recognized the interconnectedness of nations in the contemporary world. Prime Minister Modi's speech reflected India's vision to become a prominent global player, leveraging its immense talent pool, technological advancements, and burgeoning economy. Highlighting India's economic prowess, he emphasized the country's impressive growth trajectory, attributing it to its resilient and entrepreneurial citizens. He outlined various initiatives and policies undertaken by the Indian government to foster innovation, enhance ease of doing business, and encourage foreign investments. HERE ARE SOME KEY POINTS FROM PM MODI'S ADDRESS * We are focusing on infrastructure development. We have given nearly forty million homes to provide shelter to over hundred and fifty million people. That is nearly six times the population of Australia! We run a national health insurance programme that ensures free medical treatment for about five hundred million people. That is greater than the population of South America! We took banking to the unbanked with the world’s largest financial inclusion drive. Nearly five hundred million people benefited. This is close to the population of North America! * In the last nine years, over a billion people got a unique digital biometric identity connected with their bank accounts and mobile phones. This digital public infrastructure helps us reach citizens within seconds with financial assistance. Eight hundred and fifty million people receive direct benefit financial transfers into their accounts. * Democracy is one of our sacred and shared values. It has evolved over a long time, and taken various forms and systems. Throughout history, however, one thing has been clear. Democracy is the spirit that supports equality and dignity. * Nearly one point five million elected women lead us at various levels and that is of local governments. Today, women serve our country in the Army, Navy and Air Force. India also has the highest percentage of women airline pilots in the world. And, they have also put us on Mars, by leading our Mars Mission. I believe that investing in a girl child lifts up the entire family. Empowering women, transforms the nation. * More than two decades after 9/11 and more than a decade after 26/11 in Mumbai, radicalism and terrorism still remain a pressing danger for the whole world. These ideologies keep taking new identities and forms, but their intentions are the same. Terrorism is an enemy of humanity and there can be no ifs or buts in dealing with it. We must overcome all such forces sponsoring and exporting terror. * We share a vision of a free, open and inclusive Indo Pacific, connected by secure seas, defined by international law, free from domination, and anchored in ASEAN centrality. A region where all nations, small and large, are free and fearless in their choices, where progress is not suffocated by impossible burdens of debt, where connectivity is not leveraged for strategic purposes, where all nations are lifted by the high tide of shared prosperity. Moreover, PM Modi underlined India's commitment to sustainable development and climate change mitigation. He reiterated India's ambitious goals to reduce carbon emissions and increase the share of renewable energy in its energy mix. Recognizing the global nature of environmental challenges, he called for collaborative efforts among nations to combat climate change and ensure a sustainable future for all. The Prime Minister's visit to the United States also witnessed productive bilateral discussions with American officials. PM Modi engaged with President Joe Biden and other prominent figures to discuss crucial matters of mutual interest, including trade, defense cooperation, and regional security. Furthermore, PM Modi utilized this opportunity to reaffirm India's commitment to fostering peace and stability in the region. He expressed India's willingness to actively engage in diplomatic efforts and dialogues to address regional conflicts and promote harmonious coexistence among nations. PM Modi's address to the Joint Session of the US Congress received widespread acclaim both domestically and internationally. Global leaders commended India's progress and its role as a responsible global citizen. The Prime Minister's vision for India's growth resonated with the international community, strengthening India's standing on the global stage. This was Prime Minister Modi's second address to the Joint Sitting of the US Congress. He previously addressed the US Congress during his official visit to USA in September 2016.