Centre, States must be in sync to capitalise on $100 billion FDI coming our way
Outlining his vision for the country’s development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here on Thursday that it was very important to develop all the States, as every strong State will ultimately take the entire nation forward.
He said that foreign investments worth $100 billion were knocking at the doors of India and stronger Centre-State relations were needed to capitalise on the opportunity.
Inaugurating the fourth Global Investors’ Summit, here on Thursday Modi said: “If India has to develop, then it’s very important for the States to develop. India cannot achieve great heights on one pillar only. Every strong State ultimately takes the entire nation forward and that’s why it is the responsibility of the Central Government to encourage all the States to develop.”
Modi, who was in Madhya Pradesh for the first time after assuming office four months ago, was all praise for Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and said that this was for the first time he had seen such a Chief Minister who was matching the pace of the Central Government.
“The way it was decided that manufacturing units in the Defence sector would be established in Madhya Pradesh, is certainly praiseworthy. Madhya Pradesh is not only taking quick decisions, but also successfully coordinating with Union Ministers,” he added.
Stressing on the importance of Centre-State coordination in taking the country forward on the path of development, Modi added that he wanted to work with the mantra of “Team India.” “I want to work with the mantra of “Team India” to take the country forward. If the Prime Minister and all Chief Ministers work together, shoulder to shoulder, then new milestones of development can be achieved,” he said.
Asserting that the Centre and the States are not rivals or enemies, Modi said those who understand the strength of the States understand the strength of India.
“Investments worth $100 billion from abroad have applied for visa. Now it is the turn of the States to capitalise on the opportunity. The roads are wide open. The States which are ready can walk away with a major share,” Modi told the gathering of industrialists.
He also explained that his Government’s first priority was to generate employment.
“Our first priority for development is how to generate widespread employment. This is a country of young people; if they get job opportunities then it will take us very little time to overcome all the hurdles facing our country right now.”
Modi said maximum job creation was his Government’s top priority as he vowed to make India a manufacturing hub.
Modi said through the ‘Make in India’ initiative, the BJP-led NDA Government wanted to say that India should not be seen as a market for developed nations to dump their products.
“We want to assert that India has great possibilities of becoming a manufacturing hub. There is a need to make India self-reliant in manufacturing in all sectors,” he said.
Giving credit to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for the development of Madhya Pradesh, Modi said: “If there is good leadership, clear vision, good intentions, a clear direction and willingness to achieve something, then bimaru States can also become developed. Shivraj Singh, his team and Madhya Pradesh are the best example of that. The whole nation must know that the State which had less than two per cent growth at one time has been achieving nine per cent growth for the last ten years. The world understands this language.”
Further lauding the Shivraj Singh Government, Modi said Madhya Pradesh had done a lot for agriculture development by creating infrastructure in the sector and there were many opportunities for investors to invest their money in the BJP-ruled State.
Modi’s praises of the CM in his 35-minute speech also clarified the confusion among a section of the BJP that believed that the Prime Minister was not happy with the functioning of the Shivraj Singh Government.
Counting the specialities of Madhya Pradesh, Modi said: “Come and invest in Madhya Pradesh. I am with you.”
More than 4,000 delegates from across the world are attending the summit in Indore. The summit is also hosting 190 guests of honour and 28 State guests, including ambassadors and country representatives.