Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Visakhapatnam is the gateway to global trade; key for steel manufacturing, semi-conductor eco system and sea food: Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal at 30th CII Partnership Summit
Shri Piyush Goyal outlines three-pillar framework to guide India’s journey to Viksit Bharat by 2047
India’s expanding network of Free Trade Agreements reflects growing global trust: Shri Piyush Goyal
Posted On:
14 NOV 2025 4:29PM by PIB Hyderabad
14.11.2025,
Visakhapatnam
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, expressed that Visakhapatnam region today stands as a gateway to global trade—ranging from steel manufacturing to the emerging semiconductor ecosystem and seafood exports at the 30th CII Partnership Summit 2025 organized in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh today.
Shri Goyal further said that India’s holistic development journey under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is firmly moving towards the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047. He stated that a developed and prosperous India will ensure that every state flourishes, every citizen enjoys a high quality of life, and every child born in Andhra Pradesh has a bright and secure future.
The Minister presented a three-pillar framework inspired by Chanakya’s Arthashastra to guide India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation by 2047.

The first pillar, Prosperity through Technology, reflects India’s digital and innovation-led growth. Shri Goyal said that India’s technology story is one of democratization, scale and speed, driven by talent and skill. He mentioned that India has built a world-class digital public infrastructure serving 1.74 billion citizens, with several countries expressing interest in adopting India’s UPI real-time payment system. Aadhar has provided every Indian with a secure digital identity, while India is building a comprehensive semiconductor ecosystem with current investments of $30 billion and growing. The India AI Mission, he said, is democratizing artificial intelligence for all. One billion Indians are now connected to the Internet, making India the second-largest user base of ChatGPT globally.
From launching the Mars Mission to deploying 104 satellites in one mission, India has demonstrated its capabilities in innovation and scale. Shri Goyal added that India has achieved an installed power capacity of 500 GW, with more than 51 per cent coming from renewable energy sources. The country plans to double clean energy capacity to 500 GW within the next five years, marking one of the fastest energy transitions globally.
He said that India offers its international partners not just markets but also collaborations for shared prosperity and mutual growth. India’s digital infrastructure, vibrant ecosystem and engineering talent provide a strong launchpad for globally scalable solutions.
The second pillar, Trust through Righteousness, highlights India’s increasing stature as a trusted global partner. Shri Goyal said that in the current geo-economic landscape, trust is the most valuable currency. India’s humanitarian efforts, including the free supply of COVID-19 vaccines and medicines to over 100 countries, have strengthened its global credibility.

He noted that India’s trust-based diplomacy is reflected in its expanding network of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). He mentioned the recently signed FTA with the United Kingdom and the operationalized FTA with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) bloc, which includes commitments of $100 billion in FDI and the creation of one million direct jobs. India has also signed FTAs with the UAE, Australia and Mauritius and is currently negotiating with the EU, the United States, Oman, New Zealand, Chile and Peru.
The Minister said that India’s credibility stems from predictability through regulatory reforms, transparency through digital governance and reliability in honoring commitments. He highlighted that India has removed more than 42,000 compliances and abolished 1,500 obsolete laws. He added that next-generation GST reforms are further improving ease of doing business and expanding consumer spending. “When you partner with India, you partner with a civilization that views relationships through Dharma—doing what is right,” he said.

The third pillar, Trade through Capability, underscores India’s growing global competitiveness. Shri Goyal said that India’s trade exports reached a record $825 billion last year despite global headwinds, while FDI inflows touched $81 billion—reflecting strong investor confidence. This growth, he said, is driven by the Make in India initiative, market diversification and movement up the value chain through technology investments. He recalled the words of economist Michael Porter, “National prosperity is created, not inherited,” and said that India’s economic growth embodies this principle.

Shri Goyal proposed three key recommendations to expand global partnerships: facilitating two-way investments by lowering trade barriers and enabling freer movement of goods, services and capital; strengthening technology cooperation through co-development of frontier technologies and investment in high-impact innovation; and building trust through transparent governance and predictable policy frameworks that support long-term collaboration.
Highlighting Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s belief in the ancient Indian wisdom of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—the world is one family—Shri Goyal said that India’s prosperity rests on achieving self-reliance.
Andhra Pradesh is progressing under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu, who is working to build the state as Swarnandhra by 2047—prosperous, healthy and happy, the Union Minister added. The Minister said that India today stands at an inflection point in global history. The world order that shaped the last several decades is being rewritten, and in these turbulent, volatile and uncertain times, India stands as an oasis of stability and resilience. He recalled the words of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, who has said that “for global peace, stability and prosperity, the world’s most populous country must become self-reliant.”

The Union Minister also suggested that Andhra Pradesh build a permanent facility for organizing large-scale conferences, exhibitions and summits—similar to Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi—and proposed the name “Andhra Mandapam” for this world-class convention centre.
The Union Minister commended CII President Shri Rajeev Vemani and Secretary General Shri Chandrajit Banerjee for their dedicated efforts in advancing India’s growth and strengthening partnerships between government and industry through the CII Partnership Summit.
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(Release ID: 2190046)
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