PM lays foundation stone of IFSCA headquarters at GIFT City in Gandhinagar

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the headquarters building of the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) in GIFT City, Gandhinagar. He also launched the India International Bullion Exchange (IIBX), India’s first International Bullion Exchange in GIFT-IFSC. He also launched the NSE IFSC-SGX Connect. Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel, Union Minister Smt Nirmala Sitharaman, Union and State Ministers, diplomats, business leaders were among those present on the occasion.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said this day is very significant for the growing economic and technological strength of India and also for the growing global confidence in the prowess of India. “Today, in GIFT City, the foundation stone of the International Financial Services Centers Authority - IFSCA headquarters building, has been laid. I believe, as grand as this building is in its architecture, it will also create unlimited opportunities to make India an economic superpower”, he said. The Prime Minister said that IFSC will promote innovation and will be an enabler as well as a catalyst for growth. Institutions and platforms launched today will help 130 crore Indians to get connected with the modern global economy. “India is now entering the league of Countries like the USA, UK and Singapore who are giving direction to global finance'' he added.

Going back to his original concept of GIFT-city, the Prime Minister said GIFT-city is not just for business but the aspirations of the common man of the country are part of the vision of GIFT City. The vision of India's future is connected in GIFT-City, and dreams of India's golden past are also connected with this”.

The Prime Minister recalled that in 2008, when the world was facing an economic crisis and recession, there was an atmosphere of policy paralysis in India. “But, at that time Gujarat was taking new and big steps in the field of Fintech. I am glad that that idea has progressed so far today”, he said.

The Prime Minister noted that GIFT City is making a strong mark as a hub of commerce and technology. GIFT City celebrates both wealth and wisdom. He was also happy to see that through GIFT City, India is moving ahead with a strong stake in the service sector globally. He said that GIFT-city is a venue where wealth creation is happening and the best brains of the world are congregating and learning. ‘In a way, it is also a medium of reclaiming India’s glory in finance and business’, the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister said we have to remember that a vibrant fintech sector does not mean just an easier business climate, reforms and regulations. It is also a medium to give a better life and new opportunities to the professionals working in different fields.

He said that post independence, may be due to the impact of slavery and weak self confidence, the country kept shying away from the glorious legacy of business and finance and restricted its cultural, economic and other relations with the world. “However, now, ‘New India' is changing this old way of thinking and today Integration is one of our most significant agenda. We are rapidly integrating with a global market and global supply chain”, he said. “GIFT-city is an important gateway to get connected with India as well as global opportunities. When you get integrated with GIFT-city, you get integrated with the entire world”, he said.

The Prime Minister said today India is one of the largest economies of the world. So in future, when our economy will be bigger than it is today, we have to be ready for it now. For this we need institutions that can cater to our present and future role in the global economy. India International Bullion Exchange - IIBX, he said, is a crucial step in that direction. He mentioned the role of gold in ensuring economic empowerment of the Indian women. He said that India’s identity should not remain limited to just a big market but it should be a ‘market maker’. He added “On the one hand, we are bringing in global capital for local welfare. On the other hand, we are also harnessing local productivity for global welfare.”

The Prime Minister said that India’s strength goes beyond giving good returns to investors. He elaborated “At a time when global supply chains are plagued with uncertainty and the world is apprehensive of this uncertainty, India is assuring the world of quality products and services.” The Prime Minister further said “I have many expectations from the new institutions of new India, from the new systems and I have full faith in you. Today in the 21st century, finance and technology are linked to each other. And when it comes to technology, science and software, India also has an edge as well as experience too.” The Prime Minister, while underlining India’s leadership in fintech, asked the GIFT-city stakeholders to focus on fintech. “I expect all of you to target new innovations in Fintech and GIFT IFSC emerges as fintech's global laboratory.”

Second expectation expressed by the Prime Minister was about GIFT IFSC to become a gateway to global debt and equity capital for sustainable and climate projects. Thirdly, IFSCA should work for financial innovations in aircraft leasing, ship financing, carbon trading, digital currency, and IP rights to investment management. The Prime Minister also said “IFSCA should also make regulation and operation cost competitive not only in India but also in comparison to countries like Dubai and Singapore. “Your aim should be to become a leader in regulations, set high standards for rule of law, and emerge as the favourite arbitration center of the world”

The Prime Minister noted that in the last 8 years, the country has witnessed a new wave of financial inclusion. Even the poorest of the poor are joining formal financial institutions today. Today, when a large population of ours has joined finance, it is the need of the hour that government organisations and private players, together, step forward, he said. The Prime Minister called for financial literacy above basic banking as people wish to invest for growth.

About GIFT city, IFSCA, IIBX and NSE IFSC-SGX Connect

GIFT city (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City) was envisaged as an integrated hub for financial and technology services not just for India but for the world. IFSCA is the unified regulator for the development and regulation of financial products, financial services and financial institutions in International Financial Services Centres (IFSCs) in India. The building has been conceptualised as an iconic structure, reflective of the growing prominence and stature of GIFT-IFSC as a leading International Financial Centre.

IIBX will facilitate efficient price discovery with the assurance of responsible sourcing and quality, apart from giving impetus to the financialisation of gold in India. It will empower India to gain its rightful place in the global bullion market and serve the global value chain with integrity and quality. IIBX also re-enforces the commitment of the Government of India towards enabling India to be able to influence global bullion prices as a principal consumer.

NSE IFSC-SGX Connect is a framework between NSE's subsidiary in the GIFT International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) and Singapore Exchange Limited (SGX). Under Connect, all orders on NIFTY derivatives placed by members of Singapore Exchange will be routed to and matched on the NSE-IFSC order matching and trading platform. Broker-Dealers from India and across international jurisdictions are expected to participate in large numbers for trading derivatives through Connect. It will deepen liquidity in derivative markets at GIFT-IFSC, bringing in more international participants and creating a positive impact on the financial ecosystem in the GIFT-IFSC.

आज गिफ्ट सिटी में, International Financial Services Centres Authority - IFSCA Headquarters Building, का शिलान्यास किया गया है।

मुझे विश्वास है, ये भवन अपने आर्किटैक्चर में जितना भव्य होगा, उतना ही भारत को आर्थिक महाशक्ति बनाने के असीमित अवसर भी खड़े करेगा: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 29, 2022

भारत अब USA, UK और Singapore जैसे दुनिया के उन देशों की कतार में खड़ा हो रहा है जहां से ग्लोबल फाइनेंस को दिशा दी जाती है।

मैं इस अवसर पर आप सभी को और सभी देशवासियों को अनेक-अनेक बधाई देता हूँ: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 29, 2022

गिफ्ट सिटी की परिकल्पना में देश के सामान्य मानवी की आकांक्षाएँ जुड़ी हैं।

गिफ्ट सिटी में भारत के भविष्य का विज़न जुड़ा है, भारत के स्वर्णिम अतीत के सपने भी जुड़े हैं: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 29, 2022

गिफ्ट सिटी commerce और technology के हब के रूप में अपनी मजबूत पहचान बना रहा है।

गिफ्ट सिटी wealth और wisdom, दोनों को celebrate करता है।

मुझे ये देखकर भी अच्छा लगता है कि गिफ्ट सिटी के जरिए भारत, विश्व स्तर पर सर्विस सेक्टर में मजबूत दावेदारी के साथ आगे बढ़ रहा है: PM

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 29, 2022

2008 में world economic crisis और recession का दौर था। भारत में policy paralysis का माहौल था।

लेकिन, उस समय गुजरात Fintech के क्षेत्र में नए और बड़े कदम बढ़ा रहा था।

मुझे खुशी है कि वो idea आज इतना आगे बढ़ चुका है: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 29, 2022

हमें ये याद रखना होगा कि एक vibrant fintech सेक्टर का मतलब केवल easier business climate, reforms और regulations तक ही सीमित नहीं होता।

ये अलग अलग क्षेत्रों में काम कर रहे professionals को एक बेहतर जीवन और नए अवसर देने का माध्यम भी है: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 29, 2022

आज भारत दुनिया की सबसे बड़ी economies में से एक है।

इसलिए भविष्य में जब हमारी economy आज से भी कहीं ज्यादा बड़ी होगी, हमें उसके लिए अभी से तैयार होना होगा।

हमें इसके लिए ऐसे institutions चाहिए, जो global economy में हमारे आज के और भविष्य के रोल को cater कर सके: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 29, 2022

आज 21वीं सदी में finance और technology एक दूसरे से जुड़े हुए हैं।

और बात जब technology की हो, बात science और software की हो, तो भारत के पास edge भी है, और experience भी है।

आज real time digital payments में पूरी दुनिया में 40% हिस्सेदारी अकेले भारत की है: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 29, 2022

पिछले 8 सालों में देश ने financial inclusion की एक नई wave देखी है।

यहाँ तक कि गरीब से गरीब भी आज formal financial institutions से जुड़ रहा है।

आज जब हमारी एक बड़ी आबादी finance से जुड़ गई है तो ये समय की मांग है कि सरकारी संस्थाएं और प्राइवेट प्लेयर्स, मिलकर कदम आगे बढ़ाएं: PM

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 29, 2022

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