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ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

worse is when people say there is a
difference between ‘good’ and ‘bad’
terror, besides noting that it is painful
to see some youngsters getting
Prime Minister Modi radicalised. “Terrorism is dangerous,
but equally dangerous is the artificial
at WEF Davos distinction created between good and
bad terrorists,” he said.
“The other serious contemporary
aspect to which I wish to draw your
He spoke about the opportunities and dangers of technology, India’s plan to attention, is that educated, well-to-do
fight income inequality, job creation, and how the country is “cutting the red youths are being radicalised… I hope
tape and rolling out the red carpet” to international trade and investment that this forum will discuss solutions
—By Zafri Mudasser Nofil to the fault lines created by terrorism
and violence.” Modi also emphasised
Narendra Modi became the first Indian globalisation. Noting that in an that a predictable, stable, transparent
prime minister in two decades to interconnected world, globalisation is and progressive India is good news in
attend the World Economic Forum losing its lustre, Modi wondered “do an otherwise uncertain global
(WEF) annual summit at Davos, where global organisations created after the environment. “Let us create a ‘heaven
he delivered the opening plenary Second World War really reflect the of freedom’, where there is cooperation
speech and met many world leaders aspirations and dreams of mankind and not division, fractures,” he told the
and chief executives. today? With respect to the developing gathering even as he stated that issues
MODI’S HISTORIC VISIT TO DAVOS of peace, security and stability have
In his nearly hour-long speech delivered emerged as serious global challenges.
in Hindi, he send out a strong message In Brief The theme of this year’s summit is
against protectionism and inward-  Modi became the first Indian ‘Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured
focused economic policies, saying PM in two decades to attend World’ and referring to it, Modi said it
such tendencies can be as dangerous the WEF annual summit at was relevant for him as Indians have
as terrorism and climate change. He Davos. always believed in uniting and not
also pitched for creating a “heaven of  He pitched for creating a dividing people. “There are many
freedom” free from divisions and “heaven of freedom” free questions before us that require
sought to hard sell India as an answer for generations to come. Is the
investment destination, saying those from divisions. existing international system
wanting wealth with wellness and  He disclosed India’s plan to promoting fractures and rift in this
peace with prosperity should come to fight income inequality, job world? Can we remove these rifts and
the country. He termed climate change, creation. distances to make a good shared
terrorism and the backlash against  He also pointed out how the future?” he said. “We always talk about
globalisation as the three most country is “cutting the red ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (world is
significant challenges to civilisation. tape and rolling out the red one family),” he said, adding that the
He spoke about the opportunities carpet” to international trade problem today is lack of consensus to
and dangers of technology, India’s plan and investment. tackle the problems.
to fight income inequality, job creation,  The theme of the WEF Citing Mahatma Gandhi, Modi
and how the country is “cutting the red Forum this time was noted that the father of the nation had
tape and rolling out the red carpet” to said, “I don’t want doors and windows
international trade and investment. In ‘Creating a Shared Future in of my house to be closed and I want
an apparent reference to policies like a Fractured World’. winds of cultures of all countries to
America First, Modi said, “Many come inside but I won’t accept it if that
countries are becoming inward uproots my own culture.” He also
focused and globalisation is shrinking countries there is a very big gap.” quoted Sanskrit shlokas to emphasise
and such tendencies can’t be Asserting that India is proud of its that “we are children of mother earth”.
considered lesser risk than terrorism democracy and diversity, he said the Hard selling India as an investment
or climate change.” country has always contributed destination at the WEF, Modi said his
Protectionism is rearing its head towards global peace as well as government is following the principle
and there is risk of new tariff and non- believed in values of integration and of reform, perform and transform and
tariff barriers comingup, he said, as he unity. that the country is moving towards
mentioned that division is not the Noting that terrorism is dangerous, becoming a USD 5 trillion economy
solution to this problem of anti- the prime minister remarked that by 2025.

56 Competition Wizard March 2018