In a big message a day before Donald Trump’s 50% tariffs on India is set to take effect, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a bold pitch, stressing on the need to use “swadeshi” items to boost the economy. PM Modi also hailed the India-Japan’s ties, just days before his first meeting with Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba during his 4-day visit to Japan and China.
The PM on Tuesday flagged off exports of Maruti Suzuki’s first electric vehicle, the e VITARA, from the Hansalpur facility in Gujarat to over 100 countries and also inaugurated the production of lithium-ion battery, cell and electrode manufacturing for strong hybrid electric vehicles.
He also lauded India-Japan ties, saying both countries are “made for each other”.
PM Modi’s assurance to automakers
He said that the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative has created a favourable environment for both global and domestic manufacturers and the world will drive electric vehicles that are made in India
“My definition of swadeshi is very 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. What matters is that in production, the sweat belongs to my countrymen. The money may be someone else’s, but the sweat is ours,” the Prime Minister said.
“By 2047 we will build such a Bharat that your future generations will take pride in your sacrifices, will take pride in your contributions,” he added.
The statement came just a day before US President Donald Trump‘s additional 25 per cent tariff kicks in. The PM’s remark is a big assurance for the automakers who will also face hefty tariffs while sending vehicles to the US.
‘Maruti Suzuki is also a swadeshi company’
Speaking of India-Japan relations, the PM said even Maruti Suzuki is also a swadeshi company. He said the world will drive electric vehicles that are made in India.
Calling the day a big one for the country’s ‘Make in India’ dream, adding that vehicles made in the country will be exported to 100 countries. The world will drive electric vehicles that are made in India, he highlighted.
Notably, Japanese automaker Suzuki Motor Corporation will invest Rs 70,000 crore in the next five to six years in India to strengthen its operations in the country, the company’s Representative Director and President Toshihiro Suzuki said on Tuesday.
Addressing the event, he said, “Suzuki will invest over Rs 70,000 crore in India, over the next 5-6 years.”
“We are expanding to 4 million (units annually). So the expansion of 4 million units capacity, with all the supporting infrastructure and investment in R&D, and new technologies, all of that takes a lot of money,” another senior official of the company added.