On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that he cannot accept the export of raw materials while finished products are being imported, emphasizing that value addition must take place within India.
While inaugurating the 'Utkarsh Odisha, Make in Odisha Conclave' at Bhubaneswar's Janata Maidan, Modi expressed that he views eastern India as the nation's growth engine, with Odisha playing a crucial role in this progress.
"The country's development is not possible only by exporting raw materials. Therefore, we are changing the entire ecosystem and working with a new vision," he said.
"The minerals are extracted here and exported to some other country where value addition is done and finished products are then sent back to India. This trend is not acceptable to Modi," he mentioned, using the example of exporting marine products for processing in other countries.
The Prime Minister urged everyone to acknowledge the challenges posed by the global supply chain in a rapidly changing world, emphasizing that India cannot depend on fragmented and import-driven supply chains.
"Instead, a robust supply and value chain must be built within India to minimise the impact of global fluctuations. This responsibility lies with both the government and the industry," he said.
The Prime Minister stated that India is close to achieving the milestone of a USD 5 trillion economy.
He emphasized that the country’s economy is built on two key pillars: the innovative service sector and high-quality products.
"The potential for green jobs is also growing significantly. There is a need to adapt to the demands and requirements of the times. India is focusing on green technology and a green future, including solar, wind, hydro, and green hydrogen, which will power the energy security of a developed India," he said.
The Prime Minister stated that the aspirations of millions of people are propelling India’s progress on the path of development.
"Today, India is moving on a path of development driven by the aspirations of crores of people. This is an era of AI. However, the aspiration of India, not just AI, is the power of our country. Aspiration grows when the needs of the people are fulfilled. In the last decade, the country has witnessed the benefit of empowering crores of people. Odisha represents the same aspiration," he said.
Modi stated that the 21st century is defined by interconnected infrastructure and multi-modal connectivity.
"India is building specialised infrastructure at unprecedented speed and scale. It will make India a great destination for investment," he said.
The Prime Minister mentioned that ASEAN countries have expressed interest in enhancing trade relations with Odisha.
"I consider eastern India as the growth engine of the country, with Odisha playing a crucial role in this. History shows that during times when India significantly contributed to global growth, eastern India also made important contributions," he said.
Modi stated that steps were being taken to grow the petrochemical sector in the state, with dedicated industrial parks and investment regions being developed in Paradip and Gopalpur.
"I am confident that Odisha will soon reach heights of development that no one has ever imagined," he said.
The Prime Minister stated that research and innovation are essential in the current era.
"The government is working to build a vibrant ecosystem for research and a special fund has also been generated. Industries should come forward and work with the government," he said.
He emphasized that Odisha holds great tourism potential, describing it as an outstanding destination for exploring India’s rich heritage and history spanning thousands of years.
The state, he noted, presents a distinctive mix of faith, spirituality, forests, mountains, and the sea.
"Today, the focus is wed in India, heal in India. The natural beauty of this place is conducive for this," he said.
Highlighting the success of the Coldplay tour, he emphasized that India holds vast potential in the concert economy and encouraged both state governments and the private sector to invest in developing the required infrastructure and skills.
"A country that has such a rich heritage of music, dance and storytelling and a huge pool of youngsters who are big consumers of concerts, there are many possibilities in the concert economy. You have witnessed that in the last 10 years, the demand and trend for live events have increased. Over the last few days, you must have seen the beautiful pictures of Coldplay concerts in Mumbai and Ahmedabad. This proves that there is a massive scope for concerts in India," he said.
"Big artistes from around the world are attracted to India. I expect the state and the private sector to focus on developing necessary infrastructure and skills for the concert economy," he added.
The Prime Minister announced that next month, India will host the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit for the first time, offering a platform to showcase the country's creative strength to the global audience.
Emphasizing India's growing potential for conference tourism, the Prime Minister highlighted that venues such as Bharat Mandapam and Yashobhoomi in Delhi are emerging as key hubs for this sector.
Prominent industrialists, including Vedanta Group Chairman Anil Agarwal, Aditya Birla Group Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla, and Jindal Steel and Power Chairman Naveen Jindal, attended the event.
Governor Kambhampati Hari Babu, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, and Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan, Jual Oram, and Ashwini Vaishnaw were also in attendance.
Additionally, the Prime Minister inaugurated the 'Make in Odisha' exhibition, highlighting the state's progress in building a robust industrial ecosystem.
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