India is progressing towards becoming a manufacturing hub and is focussed on the proper use of technology in its ‘people-centric’ development model, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said.

“India’s economy is expected to grow by 7.5 per cent this year, which will be the highest among the world’s largest economies ... We are supporting innovation in every sector,” Modi said at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Friday.

Transit rights

Modi also called for the extension of transit rights by members countries of the SCO to one another to improve connectivity and help build reliable, resilient and diversified supply chains in the region. The stress on transit rights is especially important as Pakistan, a member country, has placed several transit restrictions on Indian goods through its territory.

The SCO includes India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Modi is in Samarkand on a two-day official tour at the invitation of the President of Uzbekistan. Modi also held bilaterals with some other leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the meeting. Chinese President Xi Jinping also attended the meet.

Uzbekistan handed over the rotating presidency of the eight-member SCO to India which will now host the next summit in 2023. The Chinese President expressed support for India’s presidency.

Start-ups and innovation

Modi, in his speech, also offered to share India’s experience in the field of start-ups with SCO members by establishing a new special working group on start-ups and innovation.

He also focussed on the challenge of global food security and said cultivation and consumption of millets could be one possible solution. “The year 2023 will be celebrated as the UN International Year of Millets. We should consider organising a ‘Millet Food Festival’ under the SCO,” he said.

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