Piyush Goyal hails Visakhapatnam as India’s global trade gateway; unveils 3-pillar roadmap to achieve Viksit Bharat by 2047.
At the 30th CII Partnership Summit 2025 in Visakhapatnam, Union Commerce & Industry Minister Shri Piyush Goyal declared the port city as India’s gateway to global trade, powered by its strategic strengths in steel manufacturing, the emerging semiconductor ecosystem, and booming seafood exports. Addressing industry leaders, Shri Goyal said Visakhapatnam and Andhra Pradesh are set to play a defining role in India’s march towards Viksit Bharat 2047, a vision driven by inclusive growth, higher quality of life, and long-term prosperity for every Indian.
A Three-Pillar blueprint for a developed India
Shri Goyal unveiled a Chanakya-inspired three-pillar framework guiding India’s transformation:
1️⃣ Prosperity through technology
- India has built a world-class digital public infrastructure supporting 1.74 billion people.
- The country now boasts 1 billion Internet users and is the second-largest user base of ChatGPT globally.
- The semiconductor mission has already attracted $30 billion in investments, with more expected.
- The India AI Mission is democratising artificial intelligence for all.
- Space achievements include the Mars Mission and 104 satellites launched in a single mission.
- India’s power capacity has touched 500 GW, with 51% from renewables, and the target is to double clean energy to 500 GW in five years, marking one of the fastest green transitions globally.
Shri Goyal emphasised that India now offers international partners not just a market, but a platform for co-development and globally scalable innovation.
2️⃣ Trust through righteousness
Calling trust the “new global currency,” Shri Goyal highlighted India’s rise as a reliable partner:
- India supplied free COVID-19 vaccines and medicines to over 100 countries, boosting global goodwill.
- India’s FTA network is expanding rapidly:
- Recently signed an FTA with the UK.
- Operationalised FTA with the EFTA bloc, promising $100 billion in FDI and 1 million direct jobs.
- Existing FTAs with the UAE, Australia, and Mauritius.
- Ongoing negotiations with the EU, US, Oman, New Zealand, Chile, and Peru.
- Recently signed an FTA with the UK.
He noted that India has improved predictability through regulatory reforms, 42,000 compliances removed and 1,500 obsolete laws scrapped.
Next-gen GST reforms continue to push ease of doing business and consumer spending. “When you partner with India, you partner with a civilisation rooted in Dharma,” he said.
3️⃣ Trade-through capability
Despite global uncertainty, India posted record figures:
- $825 billion in exports last year.
- $81 billion in FDI inflows, reflecting strong investor faith.
Make in India, value-chain upgrades, and market diversification are driving India’s global competitiveness. Quoting Michael Porter, Goyal said, “National prosperity is created, not inherited,” highlighting India’s commitment to value creation.
He proposed three steps to boost global partnerships:
- Lowering trade barriers for two-way investments
- Co-developing frontier technologies
- Transparent, predictable policy frameworks for long-term trust
Visakhapatnam’s larger role & AP’s future
Shri Goyal praised Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu’s vision of Swarnandhra by 2047, calling it a future of prosperity, health, and happiness. He urged the state to build a world-class convention centre, suggesting the name “Andhra Mandapam”, similar to Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
The minister said India stands out as an oasis of stability and resilience at a time when the global order is undergoing dramatic shifts. Quoting Prime Minister Modi, he reminded that the world’s most populous nation must become self-reliant to uphold global peace and prosperity. Shri Goyal also lauded CII President Shri Rajeev Vemani and Secretary General Shri Chandrajit Banerjee for strengthening industry–government partnerships and advancing India’s growth agenda.
SOURCE – PIB
