Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal addressed the SRCC Centenary Conclave on "Pathways to Viksit Bharat," calling on young Indians to embrace emerging technologies and contribute to India's journey toward becoming a developed nation by 2047. Goyal emphasized that investments in manufacturing, technology adoption, and skill development would create opportunities for India's youth and strengthen the country's global economic position.
Goyal stated that countries are increasingly assessed as manufacturing and investment destinations based on political stability, resilient supply chains, and fair and transparent trading practices. He noted India has an opportunity to attract investments, expand manufacturing, and adopt new technologies across northern and northeastern India to generate employment and support economic growth.
The Minister specifically called upon youth to prepare for the changing employment landscape by developing skills in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and practical application of emerging technologies. He emphasized that large language models and other AI systems need to be developed into practical tools for businesses and ordinary citizens, drawing parallels with India's growth in the information technology sector during the 1990s and 2000s.
On trade agreements, Goyal revealed that "The US bilateral trade agreement's first tranche has been finalized and is going through final contours, the legal drafting. We hope to be able to finalize and operationalize that soon, once we get the competitive advantage over our peer countries."
Goyal highlighted the entrepreneurial spirit of young Indians, particularly startup founders taking risks and pursuing innovative solutions. He expressed confidence that India would remain among the fastest-growing large economies over the next 20-25 years, supported by its youthful population, demographic dividend, large domestic market, and entrepreneurial drive.