Addressing the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday hailed India's role in the global economy, saying that even as the country battled the COVID-19 pandemic, floods, cyclones and locusts, India's resolve only grew stronger.
"When 2020 began, did anyone imagine how it would pan out?" PM Modi said, noting the impact the virus had on the world. "It's testing our resilience, public health system and economic system," he added, noting that India had among the lowest death rates from the virus in the world.
"We were among the first to advocate the use of masks and face coverings as a public health measure. We were also among hte earliest to create public awareness campaigns about social distancing," he said.
Saying that 1.3 billion Indians have embarked on the mission of an Aatma Nirbhar Bharat, Modi said India's strengths would act as a global force multiplier, merging the local with the global.
"Friends, 1.3 billion Indians have embarked on one mission—to make an Aatma Nirbhar Bharat for our self reliant India. Aatma Nirbhar Bharat merges the local with global. It ensures India’s strengths act as a global force multiplier. Time and again, india has found that our goal is the global good."
"Despite our large local needs, we did not shy away from our global responsibilities. The responsibility of being the world’s leading producer of generic medicines. We ensure constant supply to the world. We are also at the forefront of research on the vaccine for COVID-19."
"A self-reliant and peaceful India ensures a greater world. Aatma Nirbhar Bharat is about transforming India from being just a passive market to an active manufacturing hub and the heart of global value chains. Friends, the road further ahead is full of opportunities. These opportunities are in the public and private sector," PM Modi said.
"While looking at the way ahead, we should keep our focus on ramping up our capacity, securing the poor, and future-proofing our citizens," he said.
