Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India is building a manufacturing ecosystem “from chips to ships” and investing in emerging technologies such as 6G as it seeks to become a developed nation.
Addressing the Indian community in Melbourne, PM Modi said India has emerged as the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem, with more than two lakh registered startups and over 4,000 new ventures being launched every month.
The PM said the country’s startup growth is no longer confined to metropolitan cities, with entrepreneurship expanding across districts. Hundreds of startups, he added, are working in sectors such as defence and space, and an Indian space startup is preparing to launch a satellite using its own rocket.
Highlighting India’s ambitions in space, the Prime Minister referred to the upcoming Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission and plans to establish an Indian space station.
Further, PM Modi said the country’s development journey is driven by its citizens, adding that the principle of “Nagrik Devo Bhava” has become a guiding philosophy of governance.
Referring to Operation Sindoor, India’s recent counter-terror operation, he said, “During Operation Sindoor, explosions were taking place at terrorist bases and their echoes were heard across the world.”
Recalling his first visit to Australia in 2014 — the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 28 years — PM Modi noted that his current trip was his third visit to the country in 12 years.
“This is a hat-trick, in a way. It reflects the heights India-Australia relations have reached. And do you know who deserves the biggest credit for this? Not Modi, but all of you. The Indian diaspora has played the biggest role,” he told the gathering.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi received a warm welcome from members of the Indian community on his arrival in Melbourne, with chants of “Modi-Modi” and “Vande Mataram”.
“The weather in Melbourne may be cold but the warmth of the welcome from the Indian community was truly unforgettable. Their affection and unwavering bond with India continue to be a source of immense joy and pride,” the PM posted on X.
-IANS
