Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India’s trade deals with the United States and the European Union have generated a sense of economic stability and forward momentum, while opening up wide-ranging opportunities for the country’s youth. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha during the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address, PM Modi said, “After the trade deal with the US, there is a feeling of stability, there is also a feeling of movement of going forward."
The Prime Minister said India is increasingly signing what he described as “future-ready" trade agreements with major global partners.
“India is signing future-ready trade deals with several countries. In the past few days, we have signed trade deals with nine big and important countries of the world. The mother of all deals is with 27 countries- the European Union is one of them," he said.
PM Modi said major economies are keen to strengthen trade ties with India.
“Big countries are very eager to have trade relations with India. Be it the trade deal with the European Union or the recent deal with the US, the entire world is openly praising these trade deals," he said.
He added that India’s agreements were being viewed as anchors of global stability.
“When we signed the trade deal with the EU, the world became more confident about the greater likelihood of global stability. After the trade deal with the US, the world became even more confident that with stability, they can sense a speed too. This is a positive sign for the world," the Prime Minister said.
Highlighting the domestic impact, PM Modi said the agreements would directly benefit young Indians across regions and social groups.
“The US trade deal will be most beneficial to the youth, including those from urban areas and rural, as well as for girls and boys," he said, adding, “The demand for young professionals is growing around the world, and since so many foreign companies are setting up here, the opportunities are abundant for Indian young professionals as well."
Placing India’s economic trajectory in a broader geopolitical context, the Prime Minister said the world is once again witnessing a major transition.
“There was a new world order after the Second World War, and now the world is moving towards a new world order," PM Modi said, adding that “the bent is towards India, which is a vishwa bandhu."
Launching a sharp attack on the Congress, PM Modi accused previous governments of leaving behind a damaged global image.
“A significant part of our energy is being spent on correcting the mistakes of the past. It takes great effort to erase the image that was created in the minds of the world during that period. They left things in such a damaged state," he said.
He said this was the reason the NDA government had prioritised long-term policy planning. “That is why we have placed strong emphasis on future-ready policies. Today, the country is being governed on the basis of policy and strategy," PM Modi said.
Asserting that global confidence in India was steadily rising, the Prime Minister said, “Global trust in India is growing. Guided by the mantra of ‘reform, perform, transform,’ we have moved forward, and the reality today is that the nation has boarded the Reform Express."
PM Modi also described the current decade as a defining phase for the country.
“The first quarter of the 21st century has completed. But this second quarter is decisive, just like the second quarter of India’s freedom struggle in the last century was," he said.
Expressing confidence in India’s growth path, he added, “I can clearly see that in the direction of building Viksit Bharat, this second quarter is going to be equally capable."
