Union Minister Piyush Goyal describes India as “voice of developing countries”

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday called India the “voice of developing countries” and said the country today represents the Global South.

Speaking at a gala dinner in Rome in the presence of Indian and Italian business leaders, Goyal said that India as the voice of less developed countries is at the forefront of not only providing a better life for our people but also contributing to a better future for people in other parts of the world.

“Today, India represents the Global South because it is the voice of the developing countries, the voice of the less developed countries, it has been at the forefront of not only ensuring a better life for our people but also contributing to a better future for people in other parts of the world, especially in countries that have also remained in behind the development process,” said the Union Minister. Also present was the Indian ambassador to Italy, Dr. Neena Malhotra, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy Edmondo Cirielli.

Goyal further spoke about connectivity at the event and highlighted how India offers an oasis of opportunity with 1.4 billion people yearning for a better quality of life. The Union Minister said, “India offers an oasis of opportunity with 1.4 billion people yearning for a better quality of life, yearning for the good things that we have missed out on over the years and the government’s focus in the last decade has been on providing basic amenities that every person, every family.”

He also added that India now has nearly 800 million internet users across the length and breadth of the country and that 4G penetration is across the country.

“We have ensured that no family will ever be deprived of food, proper clothing, proper shelter, health care, and education. We now have nearly 800 million internet users across the length and breadth of the country. 4G penetration is all over the country. We have launched 5G and to the end by 2023, most major cities in India will be covered by 5G connectivity,” Union Minister Piyush Goyal said at a gala dinner in Rome on Wednesday.

Goyal is currently on an official visit to France and Italy, during which he would be accompanied by a delegation of top Indian CEOs. Addressing the India-France Business Summit and CEO Round Table in Paris on April 12, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal told participants and delegates that there is a huge delta of opportunities in India and urged them to tap into it.

The Embassy of India in Paris in association with the industry body Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Mouvement des Entreprises de France (MEDEF), and Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IFCCI) organized a Business Summit and CEOs Round Table on Tuesday (local time). More than 50 CEOs from Indian and French companies participated in the CEO Roundtable which was addressed by Minister Goyal and Minister Plenipotentiary for Foreign Trade, Economic Attractiveness, and French Nationals Abroad, Government of France Olivier Becht. Sectors such as agriculture, tourism, defense, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and aviation were also represented at the round table.