Make in India is just not a slogan on a lion but a new national movement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday evening. He was speaking at the inaugural of Hannover Messe 2015, jointly done with Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel at the Congress Centre.

Pitching India’s case as an investment destination, Modi said the opportunities offered were huge and the challenge was to turn this potential into reality and vision into action. The environment today, according to him, was a lot more stable with no constant change in rules or any surprise elements popping out of the blue. Things were moving quickly to generate confidence both at home and abroad.

Modi said lions were the symbol of new India with the message of friendship and promise of partnership. This message came from 14 Indian states participating at Hannover Messe along with 120 CEOs and 350 companies. The decision to be present at the event reflected a new set of priorities which included accelerating economic growth, creating-world class infrastructure and a cleaner environment.

If India had to meet each of these goals, it was important to be in partnership with the world. A focus on manufacturing, said Modi, would help fulfil the dreams of youth back home in the country. The right skills were also needed for these youngsters to meet the needs of the nation and the world.

The PM said his Government would go the extra mile in helping global investors carry out business comfortably. He assured those present that institutions in India were being reformed along with a tax regime that was stable and competitive. The Goods and Services Tax was a long needed revolution that was finally becoming a reality in 2016.

Modi reiterated good governance was essential for business and there was a momentum now in India to make this happen. “Today, we are working as Team India where there is a new partnership with states,” he added. It was important for them to compete with each other in jobs and these states would be allies in the country’s international engagements. This put in perspective their presence at the Hannover trade fair.

Modi said the winds of change were gathering more speed. “The wind is blowing in the right direction and has made India the fastest growing economy in the world,” he added. This was a time of economic challenges where humanity needed solidarity and strength of international partnership.

Angela Merkel, in her speech, referred to Modi’s recent visit to France which meant more competition for Germany. “The more we have, the better it is,” she added. Merkel reiterated that while Germany would doubtless benefit from globalisation, it would abide by the high quality standards developed back home.

(The writer is in Hannover on an invitation from Volkswagen.)

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