New Delhi [India]: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasized India’s increasing importance on the global stage, calling for stronger international partnerships and strategic transformations to address global economic volatility and emerging challenges. Speaking at the CII Partnership Summit, he detailed India’s rise as an economic power and its role as a stabilizing global force.
India as a Global Stabilizer
Jaishankar underscored India’s growing economic clout, stating,
“India, which has risen to the fifth position globally and is advancing further, needs more significant partnerships. Our stakes in the world are higher, our responsibilities greater, and the expectations of us more substantial. At a time of such volatility and uncertainty, India can act as a stabilising factor. We can contribute to global growth engines and advance technology.”
Navigating Emerging Challenges
The minister outlined the wide array of challenges India faces, from improving manufacturing and logistics to adapting to cutting-edge technologies like AI, green hydrogen, and space advancements. He highlighted human resources as a pivotal factor, particularly as much of the world faces demographic challenges.
“The economic landscape we face is undergoing deep transformation. Responding effectively cannot be a national endeavor alone,” Jaishankar stated, emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts.
Strengthening Domestic Capabilities
Jaishankar stressed the interdependence of domestic development and international partnerships.
“The greater our capabilities, the broader our capacities, the more innovative our talent, the wider our skills, the more attractive we become as a partner,” he remarked.
He praised government initiatives like Gati Shakti and the establishment of 12 new industrial nodes aimed at boosting infrastructure and manufacturing.
“Our expectation is that Indian businesses will step forward more vigorously in this journey towards Viksit Bharat (Developed India). By making India a manufacturing power, we become reliable partners in creating resilient supply chains. Moreover, it is only when there is a well-established industrial culture that we truly become generators of technology,” he added.
India’s Expanding Footprint
Jaishankar also highlighted India’s growing global influence across economic, political, diaspora, and cultural dimensions. He noted,
“India is steadily expanding its economic, political, diaspora, and cultural footprint in the world. Partnerships abroad will only be as effective as those forged at home.”