Inaugurating the Uttarakhand Investors Summit 2018 in Dehradun on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi exhorted investors to invest in Uttarakhand. This State is not only the ideal destination for tourism but also has the potential for becoming a fully organic state and an energy surplus state, he said.
Speaking about the various measures taken by the Central Government towards developing a New India, he said that Uttarakhand was a shining part of New India especially as the 18 year young State has ambitions, energy and immense possibilities.
Addressing the gathering, Modi said that the nation was experiencing rapid social and economic changes and in the coming decades, India would be the driver of the world growth engine.
He said that presently, the nation is experiencing a more stable economy with the fiscal deficit having been decreased and inflation under control. “In the past couple of years, more than 10,000 steps have been taken by the Central and State governments due to which the ease of doing business has improved by 42 points. We have annulled more than 1400 laws and improvements were made in the tax system with attempts being made to make it swift and transparent.
With the biggest tax reform since India gained independence- Goods and Services Tax, we now have a single market. Infrastructural works have been undertaken at a record rate with about 10,000 kilometres of national highways being constructed in the last year which amounts to about 27 kilometres per day- double than the figure achieved by past governments. Similarly, work on rail lines, metro rail, modernisation of railway stations, aviation and waterways has also picked up substantially.” Stating that India has the best atmosphere for investors, he referred to the Ayushman Bharat scheme, adding that it has enhanced opportunities for investment in the medical sector. This is a scheme under which the payment for patients is ready and returns to investors are assured.
Regarding Uttarakhand he said that though the region was ancient, the government is 18 years young. “Eighteen years is an important phase in age. Uttarakhand represents youth, ambitions, energy and immense possibilities which chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat’s government is working hard to harness. During the then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's time, things were tough but now Uttarakhand is on the fast track of development. Better connectivity here will benefit the tourism sector the most.
Apart from being the ideal destination, Uttarakhand also has potential for becoming a fully organic state. With the Centre also focusing on food processing, I would specially request investors to focus on agriculture, food processing and related spheres.”
Stating that India is also becoming a world leader in renewable energy, he said that the government is working to meet the target of decreasing dependence on fossil fuels and generating 175 gigawatt power by 2022 from renewable energy sources. He further said that Uttarakhand had the potential to become a power surplus state while inviting all investors to become a part of Uttarakhand’s growth.
He said, “Uttarakhand also has a unique SEZ- Spiritual Eco Zone- which is immensely more powerful than special economic zone. I am sure that under chief minister Rawat, the state will rise to the envisioned developmental levels by 2025 when the start marks the silver jubilee of its creation. I also assure full cooperation from the government of India to those investing in Uttarakhand,” said the PM.
Earlier, he also visiting the various stalls set up at the venue of the summit. Uttarakhand governor Baby Rani Maurya and various cabinet ministers were also present on the occasion.