“Demand for items made in India is increasing all over the world,” says PM Modi in Mann ki Baat

On Sunday Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed his monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’ and this is his first radio programme after winning assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa.

PM Modi lauded the export figures of India and said that last week India had the export target of $ 400 billion, i.e. 30 lakh crore rupees.

Talking about the potential of India he said that at one time the export figures of India used to be 100 billion, at times 150 billion, and sometimes 200 billion but it’s 400 billion.

“In a way, this means that the demand for items made in India is increasing all over the world; the other meaning is that the supply chain of India is getting stronger by the day… and it also has a very big message. The nation takes great strides when resolves are bigger than dreams. When there is a sincere effort day and night for the resolves, those resolutions also attain fruition… and you see, the same happens in a person’s life as well. When one’s resolve, one’s efforts, become bigger than one’s dreams, success comes to the person on its own,” said PM Modi.

PM said that ever new products from all corners of the country are reaching foreign shores.

“Leather products from Hailakandi in Assam or handloom products from Osmanabad, fruits and vegetables from Bijapur or black rice from Chandauli, the exports of all of these are increasing. Now, you will also find the world famous apricot of Ladakh in Dubai too and in Saudi Arabia, you will find bananas shipped from Tamil Nadu,” he said.

He also emphasized how an array of new products are being sent to ever newer countries.

“For example, the first consignment of millets grown in Himachal and Uttarakhand was exported to Denmark. Bainganapalli and Subarnarekha mangoes from Krishna and Chittoor districts of Andhra Pradesh were exported to South Korea. Fresh jackfruits from Tripura were exported to London by air and for the first time King Chilli from Nagaland was dispatched to London. Similarly, the first consignment of Bhalia wheat was exported from Gujarat to Kenya and Sri Lanka,” said PM Modi.

He also spoke about the potential of India and said that the basis of its strength are our farmers, artisans, our weavers, engineers, our small entrepreneurs, the MSME sector; people from many different professions.

He said that small entrepreneurs are playing a major partnership role in government procurement through Government e-Market place i.e. GeM.

During the last one year through the GeM portal, the government has purchased items worth more than one lakh crore rupees. Close to 1.25 lakh small entrepreneurs, small shopkeepers from every corner of the country have sold their goods directly to the government.

PM Modi said, “There was a time when only big companies could sell goods to the government. However, the country is changing now; the old systems are also changing. Now even the smallest of shopkeepers can sell one’s goods to the government on the GeM Portal – this is the New India.”