India must become manufacturing powerhouse: Narendra Modi

In his maiden Independence Day speech as Prime Minister (PM), Narendra Modi, announced his intention to make India a powerhouse for manufacturing with focus on quality and environment friendly technologies. He also in invited foreign companies to invest in the Indian manufacturing growth story.
 
He not just emphasised on the need to manufacture import-substitute products in India, but also urged young entrepreneurs to focus on quality and environment-friendly means to manufacture products. "We need to encourage the manufacturing sector. We need to channelise the strength of the youth through manufacturing. Manufactured goods should have zero defect as also zero effect on the environment,” Modi said from the Red Fort here on Friday.
 
He was speaking, he added, as the country's "pradhan sewak" (first servant) and not the "pradhan mantri" (prime minister).
 
Expressing concern on the country's rising import bill, Modi in his speech urged Indian entrepreneurs to make everything required for the country so that it does not rely on import. "We should strive to be a nation that doesn't import but exports. I urge the youth to reduce dependence on imported products," he said.
 
Modi also appealed global companies to look at India for setting up manufacturing bases for their requirements. “I want to appeal all the people world over, ‘Come, make in India’, ‘Come, manufacture in India’. Sell in any country of the world but manufacture here. We have got skill, talent, discipline, and determination to do something. We want to give the world an favourable opportunity that come here. Come, make in India. Be it plastics or cars or satellites or agricultural products, come make in India.”
 
Ever since the new government under the National Democratic Alliance came to power in May this year, it has stressed on making India a global manufacturing hub. According to some officials, the PM's speech was a clear indication of more reforms to come in the near future.