We need Viksit Bharat ambassadors to counter naysayers, says FM Nirmala Sitharaman

Nirmala Sitharaman. Pic/PTI

On Monday, Union Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman spoke at the Viksit Bharat Ambassador event in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, describing the goals of the Modi government's ambitious Viksit Bharat 2047 project and the importance of 'ambassadors of change.'

Sitharaman invited participants, including students, professionals, and retired officials, to become ambassadors of the Viksit Bharat and promised to help achieve the goal by 2047. She emphasised that increased citizen participation is required for the country to achieve such heights, reported IANS.

According to the agency report, she urged Viksit Bharat ambassadors to share positive tales about India, emphasising the country's successes for the benefit of its citizens. Furthermore, Sitharaman emphasised the need for Viksit Bharat ambassadors to present numbers and evidence to rebut sceptics and opponents, pushing for a never-ending struggle against factors that stymie progress.

She emphasised India's use of digital technology for payments, pointing out the considerable increase in UPI transactions and the widespread usage of QR codes by various companies, the report further added.

"We need Viksit Bharat ambassadors to counter naysayers. There is a need for constant fight against forces which are undermining us," she said and added, "There were 131 billion UPI transactions from India in 2023-24 alone."

According to IANS report, Sitharaman reflected on India's economic history, highlighting the Modi government's transformative actions, which resulted in improved rankings and economic growth.

She emphasised a variety of initiatives and changes that contribute to India's growth trajectory, including record-breaking patents, copyright registrations, and service sector exports.

Addressing young empowerment, Sitharaman emphasised the establishment of the Anusandhan corpus to promote innovation and the rapid rise of India's defence exports.

"Since the announcement of Atmanirbhar Bharat in 2020, India's defence exports have grown rapidly. Till recently we were importing the majority of defence equipment. Now our defence exports are Rs. 22,000 crore by March 2024," Sitharaman said, per the IANS report.

She also highlighted the government's ambitions in artificial intelligence, semiconductor manufacturing, and the launch of India's 5G network.