Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday urged global investors to make India a manufacturing hub of the future.
He was delivering his first maiden speech on the occasion of the nation's 68th Independence Day.
Modi pitched for manufacturing in the electronic sector and called for foreign investment in manufacturing chemicals, automobiles, agro-business and others.
Pitching for manufacturing in various key sectors, Modi said there was a need to channelise youth's vigour through manufacturing.
"I today from the Red Fort would like to tell the world 'come and make in India', come and manufacture in India, go in any part of the world, but manufacture in India," Modi said.
Modi said India could not move ahead if there was disunity in government, emphasising his focus on the process of government and avoiding big-bang reform announcements.
Pinning hopes on India becoming one of the best exporting countries of the world, Modi said: "We should strive to be a nation that does not import, but export. If million of Indian youth engage in just one product, then India will be one of the world's best exporting countries. I would appeal to the youth and small business - do not compromise in two things, one, zero defect and second, zero effect."
"Our dream is digital India. When I say digital India it is not just for the famous few but it is for the poor. If the villages of India get connected with the broadband facility and in the downtrodden schools if we can provide long distance education you can imagine how those children can be imparted with good education. If we can provide tele-medicine network in the places where the doctors cannot reach then poor in those areas will get better healthcare," Modi added.
Modi also spoke about violence against women, saying his head hung in shame to see reports of rape across the country. He said while the law will take its course, Indian society must itself be raising sons in the best possible manner.
He also announced plans for replacing the Planning Commission that for decades guided the country's socialist economy with a more modern institution.
