India’s global reach growing despite turmoil: Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said India’s reach in the diplomatic world was increasing and asserted that the country had maintained the momentum of its economic growth despite global geopolitical turmoil.

He said India had concluded nine free trade agreements (FTAs) by 2026, noting wider economic engagement helped the country record GDP growth rate of 7.8 per cent for the first quarter (April-June) of the financial year 2026-27.

Addressing a function organised in Panaji to confer the President’s Colour on the Goa Police, Shah noted the global diplomatic landscape had remained turbulent over the past few years due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and now the conflict involving the US, Iran and the Gulf countries.

He pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to 22 countries over the past year, while heads of state from around 15 countries visited India during the same period.

“At a time when the whole world was grappling with uncertainty over its economic growth because of this (geopolitical) turmoil, we engaged with other countries, presented strategic partnerships and maintained the momentum of our economic growth,” Shah said. India has entered into concrete agreements in areas such as defence, technology, energy, investment and trade, he stressed.

Shah said India had concluded nine free trade agreements by 2026, while FTAs had been proposed with 38 countries as effective trade arrangements. He said India was pursuing FTAs with the UAE, Australia, the UK, Oman, New Zealand and the European Union with the objective of increasing trade. “This is also one of the reasons why, in the first quarter of this (fiscal) year, our GDP recorded a robust growth of 7.8 per cent,” Shah said.

The Union Minister said India had shared its achievements in different fields with the rest of the world and assisted several countries in disaster relief and capacity building. “India has shared its achievements in Digital Public Infrastructure with the world and provided assistance to several countries in the areas of disaster relief and capacity building,” he said. The BJP leader emphasised that it is because of PM Modi’s consistent efforts and global outreach that India’s diplomacy has been able to establish its place firmly in the world today.

“Whatever the issue facing the world, the entire world looks at what the Prime Minister of India has to say and what his perspective is on that issue. After a long time, it is our leader Narendra Modi who has earned this respect for India in the world,” Shah commented. He said Modi envisaged India as a fully developed country by the 100th year of its independence.

“PM Modi has placed before all of us the vision of a developed India by 2047. He has envisioned a developed India that, when the country completes 100 years of independence, will be number one in the world in every field,” Shah stated.

The Union Minister recalled that when this vision was put forward, there were many debates and arguments, but gradually, this vision has transformed into a resolve of 140 crore Indians.

“Today, every Indian believes that, yes, on August 15, 2047, our nation will be the best in the world and we will be number one in every field,” he said.