Pandemic Could Not Impact The Aspirations Of 1.3 Billion Indians: PM Modi At USISPF

PM Modi on India-US Strategic Partnership:Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver a keynote address to the third summit of US India Strategic and Partnership Forum at 9 pm tonight.

New Delhi: Delivering a keynote address to the third summit of US India Strategic and Partnership Forum, Prime Minister Modi said that the current situation demands a fresh mindset- a mindset where the approach to development is human-centric. He said that the pandemic has impacted several things but it has not impacted the aspirations and of ambitions of 1.3 billion Indians. In recent months, there have been far reaching reforms. These are making business easier and red-tapism lesser, PM Narendra Modi said. "When 2020 began, did anyone imagine how it would pan out? A global pandemic has impacted everyone. It's testing our resilience, public health system & economic system. The current situation demands fresh mindset where the approach to development is human-centric," he said. "For challenges in India, you have a govt that believes in delivering results, for which ease of living is as important as ease of doing business. You are looking at a young country with 65% population less than 35 years old," PM said Stressing the importance of self reliance, PM said: "1.3 billion Indians have embarked on one mission to make an 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India). 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' merges the local with the global. It ensures India's strengths act as a global force multiplier." Earlier today Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman addressed and interacted with forum (USISPF) on US-India Economic and Financial Partnership via video conferencing. Earlier in the weeklong summit, US Vice President Mike Pence had delivered an address on Monday. India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also participated in the discussion the same day. Minister of Railways and Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal also addressed the summit on Tuesday. Pence on Monday gave a strong vote of confidence in the US-India relationship stating that the “best was yet to come." Pence also supported India in its current standoff with China. The summit is being attended by top corporate leaders, government officials and leaders. It highlights areas of bilateral cooperation: trade and investment; strategic energy ties; India's position in global supply chains, collaboration in fintech, healthcare, and technology.