Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India is not merely preparing for the future but actively shaping it, asserting that trust has become as important as trade in an increasingly uncertain world.
Addressing the Indian community in France, PM Modi said countries today are looking for reliable partners and stable supply chains, and India is emerging as a trusted global partner.
“There was a time when relations between countries were determined solely by trade. Today, along with trade, trust has become equally important. Every country wants a reliable supply chain and a stable partnership. At such a time, India is emerging as a trusted partner in the world," he said.
The Prime Minister said the world was passing through a period of uncertainty and disruption, making the India-France relationship an important anchor of trust and cooperation.
“This year, we elevated the India-France relationship to a Special Global Strategic Partnership. In Nice, my friend President Emmanuel Macron and I discussed making our relationship a force for global good. We will move forward together in every field, from defence, space and nuclear energy to AI, critical minerals and high-speed railways," he said.
PM Modi said India’s economic engagement with the world was gathering momentum, with trade ties with France steadily expanding.
“In the past few years, India has signed free trade agreements with many countries. Be it the European Union or the United Kingdom, India is entering into agreements with every country and every region of the world," he said.
The Prime Minister added that the India-UK trade agreement, set to come into force next month, would create new opportunities for farmers, workers and innovators.
Referring to the recently concluded G7 Summit, PM Modi said he had called for trust-based partnerships and greater engagement with countries of the Global South.
“India’s message at the G7 Summit was clear: global governance will only be effective when it is inclusive, global growth will only be sustainable when it is shared, and global technology will only be useful to humanity when it is trusted," he said.
Source: News18