Vadodara, June 30 (IANS) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said that India’s standing in the international community has undergone a significant transformation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asserting that the country’s views now receive serious attention on global platforms.

Addressing the valedictory session of the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC) in Vadodara, Singh said India’s growing international stature reflected broader changes in the country’s economic, technological and strategic capabilities.

“You yourselves must have experienced that earlier, when India spoke at international forums, its views were not given the seriousness they deserved. But today, when India speaks on international platforms, the entire world listens attentively to what India has to say. This is today’s India,” he said.

The Defence Minister credited PM Modi with strengthening India’s global position. “If the credit for this goes to anyone, it goes to Narendra Modi, who was born in Gujarat, grew up on the soil of Gujarat, was born to a Gujarati mother, and has carried India’s flag proudly across the world,” Singh said.

He described Gujarat as more than a geographical entity, calling it “a spirit” that had consistently shaped the country’s direction through its leaders and entrepreneurial community.

“This land gave birth to Mahatma Gandhi, who showed the world the path of truth and non-violence. It also gave India Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Iron Man, who united a fragmented nation and laid the foundation of a strong India,” he said.

Singh said Gujarat’s industrial culture and entrepreneurial mindset had allowed it to convert challenges into opportunities and had helped establish the state as a major contributor to India’s economic growth.

Referring to the origins of the Vibrant Gujarat initiative, he said the summit, launched in 2003 under PM Modi as Gujarat Chief Minister, had evolved far beyond a state-level investors’ event.

“What began then has now become a broad-based movement linked to the resolve of Viksit Bharat 2047. At that time, perhaps no one imagined that a state-level investors’ summit would acquire global recognition and establish its own global identity,” he said.

According to Singh, Gujarat had emerged over the past two decades as the “growth engine” of India’s economy through industry-friendly policies, infrastructure development and entrepreneurial spirit.

The minister also praised the diversity of sectors represented at the conference exhibition, including MSMEs, start-ups, mobility, exports, handicrafts, women artisans, tribal products, automobiles and heavy industries.

He said the exhibits demonstrated that innovation and enterprise in Gujarat were contributing across sectors important for national development.

Earlier, Singh attended a seminar on defence and aerospace industries where he interacted with representatives of Tata Advanced Systems, Larsen and Toubro, MSMEs, start-ups and academic institutions.

He said discussions with industry participants reinforced the need to create an environment that encouraged private enterprise and innovation.

“I can say that your work is incredible and highly commendable,” he told industry representatives engaged in defence manufacturing.

Singh said India’s confidence had reached a stage where it was not only envisioning the future but actively building it.

“Together, we can create a future where products designed, developed and manufactured in India not only fulfil our nation’s requirements but also serve global markets,” he added.

–IANS

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