‘Make in India’ initiative turns 10 today!
Today is an occasion to salute each and every one of you who has made this initiative a roaring success. Each of you is a pioneer, visionary and innovator, whose tireless efforts have fuelled the success of ‘Make in India’ and thereby made our nation the focus of global attention as well as curiosity. It is the collective drive, relentless in nature, which has transformed a dream into a powerful movement.
The impact of ‘Make in India’ shows that Bharat is unstoppable.
This was an effort that began ten years ago with an ambitious aim - to increase India’s strides in manufacturing, to ensure that a talented nation as ours is not merely an importer but an exporter as well.
Reflecting on this past decade, I cannot but be filled with a sense of pride in how far the strength and skills of 140 crore Indians have got us. The imprint of ‘Make in India’ has become visible across sectors, including areas where we never even dreamt of making an impact.
Let me give an example or two.
Mobile manufacturing…we know how important smartphones have now become, but what is startling is that in 2014, we had only two mobile manufacturing units in the entire country. Today, that number has risen to over 200. Our mobile exports have skyrocketed from a mere ₹1,556 crore to an astounding ₹1.2 lakh crore – a mind-boggling 7500% increase! Today, 99% of smartphones used in India are Made in India. We've become the second-largest mobile manufacturer globally.
Look at our steel industry – we have become a net exporter of finished steel, with production increasing by over 50% since 2014.
Our semiconductor manufacturing sector has attracted investments worth over ₹1.5 lakh crore, with five plants approved that will have a combined capacity of more than 7 crore chips per day!
In renewable energy, we are the 4th largest producer globally, with capacity increasing by 400% in just a decade. Our electric vehicle industry, practically non-existent in 2014, is now worth $3 billion.
Defence production exports have soared from ₹1,000 crores to ₹21,000 crore, reaching over 85 nations.
During one of the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programmes, I had spoken about the need to have a vibrant toys industry and our people showed how that is done! Over the years, we have seen exports increase by 239%, with imports halved, particularly benefiting our local manufacturers and sellers, not to mention the little children as well! :)
Many of the icons of today’s India – our Vande Bharat trains, BrahMos missiles, and the smartphones in our hands – all proudly bear the Make in India label. From electronics to the space sector, it represents Indian ingenuity and quality.
Make in India initiative is also special because it has given the poor the wings to dream big and aspire- it has given them the confidence that they can be wealth creators. Equally notable is the impact on the MSME sector.
As a Government, we are committed to making this spirit even stronger. Our decade long track record speaks for itself. The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes have been game changers, enabling investments of thousands of crores and generating lakhs of jobs. We have also made significant strides in ease of doing business.
There is a lot going in India’s favour today- we are the perfect blend of democracy, demography and demand. We have what it takes to be a key player in the global supply chain, seen as a reliable partner for business. We also have the most phenomenal Yuva Shakti, whose success in the StartUp world is for everyone to see.
Thus, the momentum is clearly in India's favour. Despite facing unprecedented challenges like the global pandemic, India has remained firmly on the growth track. Today, we are being seen as drivers of global growth. I call upon my young friends to come and join us in taking Make in India to new heights. We all must strive for excellence. Delivering quality should be our commitment. Zero defect should be our mantra.
Together, we can continue to build an India that not only meets its own needs but also serves as a manufacturing and innovation powerhouse for the world.
