India, ideal investment destination in the world today: PM Modi
What's the story
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Uttarakhand's first investors' summit today, saying India is the ideal investment destination in the world today with major social and economic changes sweeping the country.
Addressing the country's top business leaders and industrial houses at "Destination Uttarakhand: Investors Summit 2018", Modi expressed confidence that in the coming decades India will become the engine of world economic growth.
Here's more.
Steps taken
Fiscal deficit, inflation rate have come down, says Modi
"Fiscal deficit has come down, the rate of inflation has come down. The middle class is growing and the country is full of the demographic dividend," Modi said.
"In the past 4 years, the state and central governments together have taken over 10,000 measures, which have helped the country improve its position in the ease of doing business rankings by 42 points," he said.
GST
Modi says GST is the biggest reform in India post-independence
GST is the biggest tax reform in India post-independence which has turned the country into a single market, Modi said.
Highlighting rapid growth in infrastructure sector, Modi said 10,000km highways have been built, which is double in comparison with what was done by earlier governments.
The aviation sector is growing at a record speed with 100 new airports and helipads coming up across India.
Investment destination
With various govt-policies, India completes scenario of ideal investment destination
With the high-speed rail projects and metro lines in various cities and the Center's policy of housing for all, power for all, fuel for all, and banking for all, the scenario of an ideal investment destination becomes complete, PM Modi said.
"My message to investors is, make in India but not just for Indians but for the whole world," the Prime Minister said.
Ayushman Bharat
Ayushman Bharat Yojana to open up huge opportunities for investors
PM Modi said schemes like Ayushman Bharat Yojana will open up huge opportunities for investors in the health sector.
Describing Uttarakhand as a shining jewel in the crown of emerging new India, the Prime Minister extended an invitation to the top industrial houses to invest in the state, which has taken huge strides in its development since its creation.
Policy on tourism
Uttarakhand government's policy on tourism, big advantage to investors: Modi
When former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee decided to create Uttarakhand, the challenges were big but now the scenario has changed, with major steps taken in terms of infrastructure building and connectivity, Modi said.
"The state government's new policy on tourism, which gives it the status of an industry, is going to give a big advantage to investors coming to the state," he said.
Spiritual Eco Zone
Uttarakhand has potential to emerge as Spiritual Eco Zone: Modi
With its unique blend of nature-adventure-culture and yoga, Uttarakhand has enough to stimulate the interest of investors, PM Modi said, adding that it has the potential to emerge as the country's "Spiritual Eco Zone" (SEZ).
The Prime Minister said if every state recognizes its strengths and develops accordingly nothing can stop the country from growing by leaps and bounds.
South Korea model
Modi followed model of South Korea in Gujarat
Citing his own experience after he took over as Gujarat's Chief Minister for the first time, Modi said journalists asked him what model he had in mind for the development of the state.
"I said, I will follow the model of South Korea. They were puzzled to hear my answer because they had little idea about South Korea," Modi said.