New Delhi: Rs 1 lakh crore allocated by the Government under the newly operationalised Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) should be utilised by the industry to promote innovation and create a research-based ecosystem in the country. The youth should be encouraged to develop a mindset for experimentation and idea generation. This was stated by Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Piyush Goyal, during his keynote address at the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry’s (FICCI) 97th Annual General Meeting and Annual Convention in New Delhi today.
The Minister expressed hope that the Government initiative to help India develop its R&D ecosystem will attract interest from industry leaders. He urged participants to provide suggestions for making the funding process outcome-oriented and time-efficient. He also recommended involving private sector institutions in the industry-academia-government partnership to promote innovation and collaboration with the industry to address people’s needs and promote exports.
Goyal highlighted initiatives under the Modi government, such as Digital India, Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (SAUBHAGYA), Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), and Ayushman Bharat, which have collectively contributed to India’s rapid transformation.
He praised the Prime Minister’s Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) for its ongoing role in shaping the future of the nation, calling the awareness for cleanliness a revolution that was launched by the Prime Minister. He also commended FICCI for introducing an award category, “Excellence in Swachh Industry Parks,” to promote cleanliness at industrial parks across the country. He noted that cleanliness is closely aligned with economic development, job creation, and employment. He further stated that a nationwide drive by FICCI for cleanliness in industries and corporate offices would be a valuable Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. Additionally, he emphasised that the adoption of toilets in schools and colleges by CSR initiatives would significantly impact children’s futures and contribute to India’s growth story.
Goyal urged industry leaders to take a more proactive role and collaborate closely with the Government in reducing compliance burdens and decriminalising laws detrimental to businesses. This will lead to improvements in the Ease of Doing Business. He said FICCI should serve as a feedback mechanism to help the Centre improve its efforts.
Speaking about India’s growing global importance, the Minister pointed out that the nation has earned the trust of the world, with its businesses increasingly becoming part of global value chains. He noted that India has an important role to play for the Global South and is seen as the growth engine of the world under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Emphasising the need to raise quality standards in the country, Goyal urged FICCI to engage its technical committees and appoint representatives from every industry to ensure that standards are maintained. This will ensure that quality standards are practical, useful, and help India gain recognition as a quality producer of goods and services. India will not only be a trusted partner but also a provider of high-quality goods. This will be a key factor in defining the country’s journey towards a Viksit Bharat, he said.
BI Bureau
