Modi says sky is the limit to invest in India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited global business leaders on Friday to invest in India, saying its market of 120 crore people provides vast opportunities from agriculture to defence.

“The sky is the limit in India. You can venture here in any area you want (to do business),” Modi told a global audience in his plenary address at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) St. Petersburg.

This is the first time that an Indian prime minister is attending the SPIEF forum, which is held annually in Russia’s second largest city and President Vladimir Putin’s hometown.

Putin, who addressed the session before Modi, also spoke of Russia’s attractiveness for investors, pointing out the technological advancements of its youth.

Modi said that his government’s journey toward developing India is built on investments in infrastructure, agriculture, manufacturing and services.

“Fifty cities need metros, 500 cities need solid waste management and drinking water. Besides, India has the world’s

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT AN INDIAN PRIME MINISTER IS ATTENDING THE SPIEF FORUM

second largest railway network. It needs to be expanded, upgraded…,” Modi said.

All this provides immense opportunities for investment, he said.

‘BLOCK FUNDING, WEAPONS FOR TERRORISTS’

Describing terrorism as a global menace, PM Narendra Modi urged the world community to block funding, weapons and communication modes of terrorists, in an apparent reference to Pakistan’s support for Kashmiri militants.

“The call of time is that we should rise above specific incidents. Terrorism is the enemy of humankind. All should come together to fight it,” Modi said during a discussion at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

Lamenting that for 40 years, a resolution is pending before the United Nations regarding definition of terrorism and of those who help terrorists, Modi said: “Only lip service has been provided.”