By Our Correspondent
NEW DELHI/ BHUBANESWAR: Union Minister of Commerce and Industry & Railways Piyush Goyal on Saturday virtually addressed 74th annual session of Hindustan Chamber of Commerce. He commented that this Annual Session called by the Hindustan Chamber of Commerce is focusing on the role of Chambers of Commerce & importance of technology – a very appropriate subject whose importance we have realised during this pandemic.
The Minister said that the role of the Chamber of Commerce is only getting more and more important as each day passes by. He said that the initiatives that the Chamber has been taking clearly show the goodwill they have been able to generate. Chambers have played a very important role in highlighting to the Government areas of concern, the problems on the ground & in coming up with the innovative solutions to solve the problems of business while also maintaining the sanctity of fight against the COVID
Goyal said that we are all working together to re-frame & re-imagine our businesses, re-engineer the way Govt works & change policies, laws & procedures to make them contemporary. He said that together business & Government are working towards a better future for marginalised section of society or those who have been deprived of the benefits of 73 years of independence. “ Let us work together to improve the lives of people at the bottom of the pyramid. Let us engage with digital technology so that we can improve the speed of business & Govt, bring about improvement in our quality to ensure a better future for 1.3 billion Indians”, he added.
The Minister said that this has been a period where the true resilience of Indian businesses has been put to test. He said that we have not only become one of the largest manufacturers of PPEs, masks, ventilators & medicines across the world, but are also exporting them. Even during the strictest lockdown period, our exports did not stop, showing to the world that India is a reliable partner. The world now looks towards India as a trusted, reliable partner in the global supply chain. “The whole world recognises the phenomenal work India has taken in our fight against the pandemic and in our rapid recovery. India’s abilities to become self-reliant, expand scale of operation, introduce good manufacturing practices & improve quality are all being recognised by world. I can today say with pride that our Indian industry has come up to the expectations of the people of India”, he added.
Talking about the economic revival, the Minister said that so many data points indicate that the worst is over. The merchandise exports in September this year are 5% more than the last year, GST collections are up by 4% over the corresponding period, and railway carried 15% more freight. “The indicators show that India will once again bounce back to high growth levels which is truly our destiny”, he added.
Assuring that the Government is committed to ensuring the recovery of all our businesses, Shri Goyal said that it is the collective effort of industry & the Govt that has helped us come back to the recovery phase. He said that through the use of technology, we have been able to keep the wheels of Government, business, trade & industry rolling & picking up speed.
Goyal said that pandemic has shown how important Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s measures in the last 6 years, to strengthen the infrastructure of India and take the benefits of quality lifestyle to the poor, have been to overcome this period. He said that Swacchata mission, facilities of free gas cylinders and health facilities to the poor, and the opening of Jan-dhan accounts, have all helped in better delivery of services.
Shri Goyal said that the Prime Minister talks about having Reform, Perform and Transform, and in this regard, We have taken the opportunity of COVID to bring about game-changing reforms in agriculture, labour, mining, capital markets & banking, space technology & defence. This will strengthen India and prepare us to engage with the world from a position of strength, he added.
Talking about the recent agriculture reforms, Shri Goyal said that the fact that nearly 10 crore farmers are getting Rs 6,000 per year as a mark of respect for their enormous contribution to making India self-sufficient in food grains. He appreciated the farmers for making India a large exporter of Agri & processed food products. Goyal said that We are all working as a team, breaking departmental silos, unshackling businesses and farm sector from traditional controls, licences & quota raj. “Working together, no power on earth can stop India from truly becoming a super power and economy that cares for its people & that improves the quality of life of every single person”, the Minister said.
