The popular Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel, Ambassador of Japan to Bharat, Mr. Keiichi Ono San, President of Suzuki Motor Corporation, Toshihiro Suzuki San, Managing Director of Maruti Suzuki India Limited, Hisashi Takeuchi San, Chairman R.C. Bhargava, all employees of the Hansalpur Plant, other distinguished dignitaries, ladies and gentlemen!
Amidst the joy of Ganeshotsav, today a new chapter is being added to Bharat’s Make in India journey. This “Make in India, Make for the World” is a big leap towards our goal. From today, Electric Vehicles made in Bharat will be exported to 100 countries. Along with this, hybrid battery electrode manufacturing is also starting today. This day is also giving a new dimension to the friendship between Bharat and Japan. I extend my heartiest congratulations to all Indians, to Japan, and to Suzuki Company. In a way, thirteen marks the beginning of the teenage phase. Teenage is a time of spreading wings, of taking flight with dreams. In teenage, countless aspirations arise; it is almost as if the feet don’t touch the ground. I am happy that today Maruti is entering its teenage years. The entry of Maruti into its teenage years here in Gujarat means that in the coming days Maruti will spread new wings, move forward with fresh energy and enthusiasm. I have full faith in this.
Friends,
The seeds of this success story of Bharat were sown almost 13 years ago. In 2012, when I was the Chief Minister here, we allotted land to Maruti Suzuki in Hansalpur. Even at that time, the vision was of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India), of Make in India. Our efforts back then are playing such a big role today in fulfilling the nation’s aspirations.
Friends,
On this occasion, I would like to fondly remember the late Osamu Suzuki San. Our government had the privilege of honouring him with the Padma Vibhushan. I am happy that the vision he had for Maruti-Suzuki India, today we are witnessing its grand expansion.
Friends,
Bharat has the power of democracy, and Bharat has the advantage of demography. We also have a very large pool of skilled workforce. This creates a win win situation for all our partners. Today you can see Suzuki Japan is manufacturing in Bharat, and the cars made here are being exported back to Japan. This not only reflects the strength of Bharat-Japan relations but also the trust that global companies have in Bharat. In a way, companies like Maruti Suzuki have become brand ambassadors of Make in India. For the past 4 consecutive years, Maruti has been Bharat’s largest car exporter. From today, EV exports will also begin on the same scale. Now, in dozens of countries around the world, the EVs running there will carry the mark—Made in India!
Friends,
We all know that the most critical part of the EV ecosystem is the battery. Until a few years ago, batteries in Bharat were completely imported. To strengthen EV manufacturing, it was necessary that Bharat also manufacture batteries. With this vision, we laid the foundation of the TDSG battery plant here in 2017. Under a new initiative by TDSG, three Japanese companies together will manufacture cells in Bharat for the very first time in this factory. Even the electrodes for battery cells will now be produced locally in Bharat. This localization will give new strength to Bharat’s self reliance. It will also accelerate the growth of hybrid electric vehicles. I extend my heartiest congratulations to you all for this historic beginning.
Friends,
A few years ago, EVs were seen only as a new alternative. But I have always believed that EVs are a concrete solution to many problems. That’s why, during my visit to Singapore last year, I had said, we can convert our old vehicles, our old ambulances, into hybrid EVs. Maruti Suzuki accepted this challenge and, in just 6 months, developed a working prototype. I just saw this prototype of the hybrid ambulance myself. These hybrid ambulances perfectly fit into the PM E-DRIVE scheme. In this scheme of about 11,000 crore rupees, a dedicated budget has also been set aside for e-ambulances. Hybrid EVs will reduce pollution and also provide an option to transform old vehicles.
Friends,
Clean energy and clean mobility, this is our future. Through such efforts, Bharat will rapidly become a reliable centre for clean energy and clean mobility.
Friends,
Today, when the world is struggling with supply chain disruptions, it is clear how useful the policies framed by Bharat over the past decade have been for our nation. In 2014, when I was given the opportunity to serve the country, we immediately began preparations for this. We launched the Make in India campaign and created a favourable environment for both global and domestic manufacturers. To make manufacturing in Bharat efficient and globally competitive, we are developing industrial corridors, creating plug and play infrastructure, and building logistics parks. Bharat is also providing Production Linked Incentives (PLI) benefits to manufacturers in many sectors.
Friends,
Through major reforms, we have also removed old difficulties faced by investors. This has made it easier for investors to put their money into Indian manufacturing. The results are before us: in this decade, electronics production has increased by nearly 500 percent. Mobile phone production has increased by as much as 2,700 percent compared to 2014. Defence production too has grown by more than 200 percent in the past decade. These successes are motivating all Indian states, every single state, to compete in reforms and in attracting investments. This healthy competition is benefiting the entire country.
And I have been telling all the states in every meeting, in personal conversations, very publicly that we have to be proactive. We have to make pro development policies. We have to emphasize on single window clearance. We have to emphasize on reforms in the laws and this is the age of competition, the faster a state keeps its policies neat and clean, without ifs and buts, the more the investor’s confidence increases. The investor comes with courage to come. Today the whole world is looking towards India. In such a situation, no state should be left behind. Every state should take the opportunity. There should be such competition that an investor coming to India should have difficulty in thinking whether to go to this state or that state. There should be such clear cut competition, the country will benefit from this and therefore I invite all the states to compete for reforms, compete for good Governance, compete for pro development policies and ensure our participation in achieving the target of making a developed India by 2047 at a fast pace.
Friends,
India is not going to stop here. We have to do even better in the sectors in which we have performed well. For this, we are emphasizing on mission manufacturing. In the coming time,our focus will be on the futuristic industry. India is taking off in the semiconductor sector. 6 plants are about to be ready in the country. We have to take semiconductor manufacturing further.
Friends,
The Government of India is also aware of the difficulties faced by the auto industry due to shortages of rare earth magnets. To enhance the country’s capabilities in this direction, we have also launched the National Critical Mineral Mission. Under this, more than 1,200 exploration expeditions will be conducted at different places in the country, and critical minerals will be searched for.
Friends,
I am going to Japan next week. The relationship between India and Japan is beyond just diplomatic relations; it is a cultural and trust based relationship. We see our progress in each other's progress. The journey we started with Maruti Suzuki has now reached the speed of a bullet train.
The major initiative to realize the industrial possibilities of the Bharat–Japan partnership began right here in Gujarat. I remember, when we started the Vibrant Gujarat Summit 20 years ago, Japan was one of the key partners. Just think about it, a developing country, a small state organizing an investment summit, and a developed country like Japan being its partner. This shows how strong the foundation of Bharat Japan relations is. Today, as I recall the journey of Vibrant Gujarat, I see my friends sitting here, one of them was the Ambassador of Japan to Bharat back in 2003. He is retired now, but his love for Bharat and Gujarat remains the same. I warmly welcome him. The people of Gujarat also cared for the people of Japan with the same affection. We even printed industry-related rules and regulations in Japanese. When I was in Gujarat, I used to pay attention to every small detail. Even my visiting card was printed in Japanese. Whenever we made promotional videos, we ensured Japanese dubbing. I knew very well that I had to move forward strongly on this path. That is why I say to all other states, the sky is open, my friends, work hard, come forward, and you will gain a lot.
I also recall that in the early days, when our Japanese friends used to visit, gradually I grew closer to them and came to understand their way of life. I noticed one thing about the Japanese: their cultural ecosystem is always their top priority. They want their Japanese food. It’s quite similar to the people of Gujarat. In Gujarat, if they go out on a Saturday or Sunday, they may go to a restaurant and ask for Mexican food or Italian food. But if they travel outside Gujarat, they are always looking for Gujarati food. I found the same nature in the Japanese people. That is why I arranged for Japanese cuisine in Gujarat and even invited a hotel chain to provide it. Later, I was told that for the Japanese, life without golf is incomplete. So, I also gave that priority. Keeping our Japanese friends in mind, we developed 7–8 new golf courses in Gujarat, where earlier golf had no presence at all. See, if you want development, if you want to bring investment, if you want to attract the world, you have to pay attention to every detail. Many states in our country are doing this. To those states that are still behind, I say, treat every detail as an opportunity and move forward in a new direction of development. Not just that, my friends, in our schools, colleges, and universities, great emphasis is being given to teaching the Japanese language. Today, many Japanese language teachers are working in Gujarat. In several schools, Japanese is being taught.
Friends,
Through our efforts, the people-to-people connect between Bharat and Japan has grown tremendously. We are also able to meet each other’s needs when it comes to skills and human resources. I would like companies like Maruti-Suzuki to also become part of such initiatives and expand youth exchange programs.
Friends,
In the same way, we must move forward in all key sectors in the times to come. I am confident that the steps we are taking today will raise the edifice of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ in 2047 to new heights. I am equally confident that Japan will continue to walk with us as our trusted partner in this mission, our friendship will remain unbreakable. I often say that when it comes to the Bharat Japan relationship, it is a “made for each other” partnership. Today, I extend my best wishes especially to Maruti. Right now, you are only at the beginning of your teenage years. You have to spread your wings, weave new dreams. We are with you with full strength for your resolutions, for their fulfilment. With this confidence, let us all advance the campaign of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India). Let us be Vocal for Local. Swadeshi should become our life mantra, my friends, walk proudly towards Swadeshi. And what Japan is producing here, that too is Swadeshi. My definition of Swadeshi is very simple: it doesn’t matter whose money is invested, whether it is dollars, pounds, whether the currency is black or white, it doesn’t matter to me. What matters is that in production, the sweat belongs to my countrymen. The money may be someone else’s, but the sweat is ours. The production will carry the fragrance of my motherland, of the soil of Bharat. With this spirit, come with me, friends. By 2047 we will build such a Bharat that your future generations will take pride in your sacrifices, will take pride in your contributions. For the bright future of your coming generations, for the mantra of Atmanirbhar Bharat, for the path of Swadeshi, I invite all my fellow citizens today. I invite you, let us all march ahead together. By 2047 we will surely build a ‘Viksit Bharat’. Bharat will continue to increase its contribution to the welfare of the world. With this spirit, I extend my best wishes to all of you!
Thank you very much!
