Swadeshi Should Be Life Mantra for All, Says Modi

New Delhi, Hansalpur (Gujarat): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that “swadeshi” should be everyone's life mantra and the NDA government’s Make in India initiative had created a favourable environment for both global and domestic manufacturers.

Speaking after launching Maruti Suzuki's first electric vehicle, the e-Vitara, at the carmaker’s Hansalpur unit in Gujarat, the Prime Minister said that the world will drive electric vehicles that are made in India, referring to the company exporting its vehicles in 100 countries.

Modi said his definition of swadeshi was 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. But whatever production is done with that money, the sweat should be of my countrymen. Those products will have the fragrance of my country’s soil," the Prime Minister said.

He urged people to buy only swadeshi products, saying it is not important who makes the investment, but what matters is that the hard work for making the product should be of Indians.

“In that way, Maruti Suzuki is also a swadeshi company. Swadeshi should become our life mantra. Let’s embrace swadeshi with pride. The things that will be made here by Japan are also swadeshi,” the Prime Minister said.

“In 2047, we will make India such that future generations will be proud of your sacrifice and contribution. For the bright future of your future generations, to realise the mantra of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India), I am inviting my countrymen today. Come, let us all move forward and make India a developed country,” he said.

The Prime Minister recalled that Maruti Suzuki was allotted land in Hansalpur when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2012. "In those days too, I had the vision of 'Make In India' and Atmanirbhar Bharat. Today is a great day for 'Make in India' as e-vehicles made in the country will be exported to 100 countries. The world will drive electric vehicles that are made in India," he said.

“India possesses the strength of democracy and the advantage of demography, India also has a vast pool of skilled workforce, creating a win-win situation for every partner,” the Prime Minister emphasised.

Modi noted that the “Make in India” initiative had created a favourable environment for both global and domestic manufacturers and companies like Maruti Suzuki, India's largest car exporter, have become brand ambassadors of the campaign.

Noting that for four consecutive years, Maruti Suzuki has been India’s largest car exporter, the Prime Minister announced that EV exports would also begin on the same scale and affirmed that in dozens of countries around the world, the EVs that will run will proudly bear the label: Made in India.

Underlining that the most critical component of the EV ecosystem is the battery, he said that until a few years ago, batteries in India were imported. To strengthen EV manufacturing, it was essential for India to begin domestic battery production.

Recalling that in 2017, the foundation of the TDSG battery plant was laid with this vision, Modi announced that under the initiative, three Japanese companies will jointly manufacture battery cells in India for the first time and battery cell electrodes will also be produced within India. He emphasised that this localisation would empower India’s self-reliance and will accelerate the growth of the hybrid electric vehicle sector.

The Prime Minister noted that at a time when the world was grappling with supply chain disruptions, India’s policy decisions over the past decade are proving highly effective. He noted that India was working to make its manufacturing sector efficient and globally competitive and industrial corridors are being developed to support this vision as well as plug-and-play infrastructure and logistics parks are being established across the country.

Modi said manufacturers in several sectors were being provided benefits under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. Stressing that through major reforms, longstanding challenges faced by investors have been resolved, Modi remarked that these reforms have made it easier for investors to invest in Indian manufacturing.

Highlighting the outcomes of these efforts, the Prime Minister mentioned that in this decade alone, electronics production in India had increased by nearly 500 per cent. He said mobile phone production had surged by up to 2,700 per cent compared to 2014, he stated that defence production has also witnessed growth of over 200 per cent in the past decade.

He said that this success was motivating the states and a healthy competition had emerged regarding reforms and investment, benefiting the nation. Modi urged the states to come up with pro-development policies and reforms with enhanced ease of doing business facilities to attract global investors.

“India will not stop here; in sectors where India has performed well, the goal is to achieve even greater excellence,” asserted the Prime Minister underlining that the government was prioritising Mission Manufacturing to drive this progress.

Referring to his proposed visit to Japan next week, the Prime Minister said that the relationship between India and Japan went far beyond diplomatic ties — it was rooted in culture and mutual trust.

He remarked that both nations saw their own progress in each other’s development. “India’s ongoing efforts are strengthening the people-to-people connect between India and Japan. Both nations are now able to meet each other’s needs in skill development and human resources,” he said and urged companies like Maruti Suzuki to actively participate in such initiatives and promote youth exchange programmes.