By Our Special Correspondent
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday made a strong case for modernizing agriculture, animal husbandry and food processing for the country to become self-sufficient and become a global leader in agriculture.
The Prime Minister asked states to focus on promoting the 3Ts -- trade, tourism and technology -- with a view to reducing imports and increasing exports, an official statement said after the seventh meeting of the NITI Aayog Governing Council.
People should be encouraged to use local goods wherever possible, he said, adding that 'vocal for local' is not an agenda of an individual political party, but a common goal.
He said India "must focus on modernized agriculture, animal husbandry and food processing to become self-sufficient and a world leader in agriculture". He said that rapid urbanization is India's strength rather than its weakness by making every citizen's life easier, providing transparent services and using technology to improve the quality of life.
The Prime Minister also appreciated the collective efforts of all the states in the spirit of cooperative federation in the fight against the Covid pandemic. "Each state has played a vital role according to its strength and contributed to India's fight against Covid. This has led to India emerging as an example for developing countries to look up to as a global leader," he said.
"For the first time in the 75 years since India's independence, all the Chief Secretaries of India met at one place to discuss issues of national importance for three days. This collective process led to the development of the agenda for this conference."
The prime minister stressed the need for concerted action to increase Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections, adding that while realizations have improved, "the potential is huge... and it is crucial to strengthen and grow our economy a USD 5 trillion economy."
He said that the seventh meeting was the culmination of months of rigorous brainstorming and consultation between the Center and the states to identify national priorities.
In his closing speech, Modi said that NITI Aayog will study the concerns, challenges and best practices of the states and plan the way forward.
The issues discussed at the meeting will define national priorities for the next 25 years, he said, adding, "The seeds we sow today will define the fruits India will reap in 2047."
The Prime Minister also spoke about India's G20 presidency in 2023, saying, "We need to develop a collective movement around the G20. This will allow us to identify the best talent available in the country." He also said that states should have a special team for G20 to get the maximum possible benefit from the initiative.
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