As we mark 80 years of Independence, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's address puts people, sustainability and India's global strengths at the centre of our development journey. His call for Atmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India and Vocal for Local reflects our growing confidence to build a self-reliant, future-ready nation, one that has moved from being among the 'Fragile Five' to the world's fastest-growing major economy in just over a decade.

Industry shares the Prime Minister's resolve to build on this momentum and is ready to match it with sustained investment in areas of strategic importance. Agriculture and food processing stand out as a real opportunity: with wider market access through FTAs, we need to take our farm produce to global markets, building global brands around our millets, spices, fruits and flowers. This can open up new opportunities for farmers and rural enterprises, while strengthening India's place in global value chains.

The Prime Minister's focus on nuclear energy, semiconductors and the green and blue economies also points to where India's next decade of growth will come from, while his recognition of India's soft power adds a fresh dimension to our global economic presence.

As India works towards Viksit Bharat, Industry has a central role to play in translating this vision into broad-based, employment-oriented growth. CII remains committed to working with Indian industry to take this agenda forward and build a globally competitive, self-reliant economy.