Modi pushes for vocal for local, says India’s items in demand globally
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday pointed out that India has achieved an export target of Rs 30 lakh crore, attributing the “feat” to the strengthening of the “supply chain” of India “ and called for going “vocal for local” so that it goes “global”.
In his monthly radio talk “Man ki Baat”, the Prime Minister touched on a range of issues, including innovative start-ups, growth in “Ayush” product manufacturing, individual efforts in the country to recharge water bodies, cleanliness, and meaningful works of kindness by several people to nourish the environment and the society.
In the beginning of his talk, Modi cited the Indian export achieving the target of Rs 30 lakh crore, which, he said, more than anything showed “Indian capability”.
“At first instance, it might come across as a matter related to the economy, but more than the economy, it is related to the capability of India, the potential of India.
“At one time, the figure of exports from India used to be 100 billion, at times 150 billion, sometimes 200 billion…today, India has reached 400 billion dollars. In a way, this means that the demand for items made in India is increasing all over the world,” he said.
Besides, Modi said it also means that “the supply chain of India is getting stronger by the day… and it also has a very big message.”
The Prime Minister said, “The nation takes great strides when resolves are bigger than dreams. When there is a sincere effort day and night for the resolves, those resolutions also attain fruition… and you see, the same happens in a person’s life as well. When one’s resolve, one’s efforts become bigger than one’s dreams, success comes to the person on its own.”
Modi pointed out that “new products from all corners of the country” are reaching foreign shores. Leather products from Hailakandi in Assam or handloom products from Osmanabad, fruits and vegetables from Bijapur or black rice from Chandauli, the exports of all of these are increasing.
“Now, you will also find the world-famous apricot of Ladakh in Dubai too and in Saudi Arabia, you will find bananas shipped from Tamil Nadu. Most importantly, an array of new products are being sent to ever newer countries.”
For example, the Prime Minister said the first consignment of millets grown in Himachal and Uttarakhand was exported to Denmark. Bainganapalli and Subarnarekha mangoes from the Krishna and Chittoor districts of Andhra Pradesh were exported to South Korea. Fresh jackfruits from Tripura were exported to London by air and for the first time, King Chilli from Nagaland was dispatched to London.
Similarly, the first consignment of Bhalia wheat was exported from Gujarat to Kenya and Sri Lanka.
“This means, now if you go to other countries, made in India products will be more visible than ever before”, Modi said.
“This list is very long and the power of “Make In India” is equivalent in might to the extent of the list. Equally great is the potential of India… and the basis of its strength are our farmers, artisans, our weavers, engineers, our small entrepreneurs, MSME sector; people from many different professions, all of them are its true strength,” he said.
“It is only due to their hard work, that the goal of exporting to the tune of $ 400 billion has been achieved and I am happy that this power of the people of India is now reaching new markets in every nook and corner of the world”, Modi said.
In his address Modi referred to many individuals including M Sri Narayanan in Kerala who made more than one lakh earthen pots and distributed to people to give water to birds around -and Chnadrakishore Patil who is preventing and cleaning the garbage being thrown in Godavari river in Maharashtra.
Modi spoke of the market of the Ayush Industry, which, he said is “increasing continuously”.
Six years ago, the market for medicines related to Ayurveda was around 22 thousand crore.
“Today, the Ayush Manufacturing Industry is reaching around one lakh forty thousand crore rupees, that is, the possibilities are increasing continuously in this sector. In the start-up world too, AYUSH is becoming a subject of attraction”, said Modi.
The Prime Minister named start-ups in Ayush like Kapiva - where Ka means - Kapha, Pi means - Pitta and Va means - Vaata.
Modi said this start-up is based on healthy eating habits in accordance with our traditions.
“Niro-Street too is another start-up which is a unique concept in the Ayurveda healthcare ecosystem. Its technology-driven platform connects Ayurveda doctors from across the world directly to the people. More than 50 thousand practitioners are associated with it”, he said.