Bhavnagar : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday emphasized that Made in India products are vital for the nation’s growth, stating that whether it concerns chips or ships, they must be manufactured domestically. He stressed that this approach is key to achieving self-reliance and reducing dependence on foreign nations..
During the ‘Samudra se Samriddhi’ programme in Gujarat’s Bhavnagar, PM Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for development projects worth over Rs 34,200 crore across multiple sectors. Moreover, he addressed a large gathering at Jawahar Maidan, saying, “India moves forward with the spirit of ‘Vishwabandhu’ (global brotherhood); however, our biggest adversary remains dependence on other nations. Therefore, we must collectively defeat this reliance.”
He further added, “Greater foreign dependence leads to national setbacks. Consequently, for global stability and prosperity, India must become Atmanirbhar. Reliance on others compromises our self-respect. Hence, the future of 140 crore citizens cannot depend on others.”
PM Modi highlighted that achieving self-reliance requires confronting challenges, reducing external dependence, and demonstrating true ‘Atmanirbharta’. In addition, he criticized the Congress-led UPA government, explaining that post-Independence policies ignored India’s inherent strengths. “Prolonged entanglement in the license-quota system and isolation from global markets hindered our progress. Furthermore, Congress focused on imports, which caused scams and harmed youth potential,” he added.
Specifically citing the shipping sector, PM Modi noted, “India was once a leading maritime power. Previously, domestic ships powered our trade, with over 40% of import-export using Indian vessels. However, misguided policies forced reliance on foreign ships, reducing Indian share to just 5%.” In fact, he revealed that India pays nearly $75 billion annually to foreign shipping companies, nearly matching the country’s defense budget.
He reiterated, “If earlier governments had invested in domestic shipping, India would be earning lakhs of crores today. Therefore, to achieve a Viksit Bharat by 2047, self-reliance is essential. All 140 crore citizens must commit — be it chips or ships, they must be Made in India.”
Furthermore, PM Modi announced reforms in the maritime sector, including freeing ports from fragmented processes through ‘One Nation, One Document’ and ‘One Nation, One Port’. In addition, he highlighted amendments to outdated colonial-era laws and the introduction of five modern maritime laws to improve shipping and port governance.
He also pointed out that over the past decade, more than 40 ships and submarines have joined the Navy, with most built domestically, including the INS Vikrant, which used high-quality Indian steel. “India has the skill, technology, and political will to build large ships. Consequently, our maritime sector is now moving towards next-generation reforms,” PM Modi asserted.
Finally, with a vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, PM Modi emphasized that boosting domestic manufacturing is not optional but essential for national security, economic growth, and global competitiveness. Therefore, he called upon industries, citizens, and policymakers to unite under the Made in India initiative and strengthen the nation’s self-reliance across sectors.
