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India's ties with Kenya a win-win friendship, says PM Modi

Published By : Admin | July 11, 2016 | 20:56 IST
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Your Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta, President of Kenya;
Cabinet Secretaries;
Chairmen of various Chambers and associations of Commerce & Industry;
Friends from the Business Community of Kenya and India;

Ladies and Gentlemen!

I am happy to be with you on my first visit to Kenya as Prime Minister. Indians in general, and Gujaratis in particular, have had their second home in Kenya. So, from that perspective, I am really late in visiting this great country. There has been a long gap of nearly 35 years for the visit of Indian Prime Minister. Though at a personal level, I was able to maintain engagements with Kenya. As Chief Minister of Gujarat, I visited Kenya in 2008. We also received delegations in Gujarat from here.

At the outset, I must compliment the people and leadership of Kenya for overall development and stability since independence. Kenya’s economy and its infrastructure make it an influential player in the region. You are the only developing country which hosts the headquarters of UN agencies. 

Friends!

India and Kenya have had a very special relationship.

  • Thousands of Indians were brought here to build railways in 19th and 20th centuries;
  • Mahatma Gandhi has been a common inspiration for the Struggle against colonialism;
  • Indian banks have been operating in Kenya since 1953.
  • The first cuttings of the famous tea plantations of Kericho came from our Assam state.
  • In addition to being loyal citizens, Indians are also the third largest group of tourists to Kenya.
  • Your scholars and students consider India as a very comfortable place to live, learn and work;
  • No wonder, many words in Swahili language have their origin in Indian languages;
  • Both countries have had very old maritime contacts over the Indian Ocean;
  • Many Indian companies have made Kenya their base to operate in the entire East Africa.

Mr. President, I am aware that your government has laid great emphasis on the use of solar energy in daily life. We are also working on an ambitious renewable energy programme. India and Kenya are blessed by sufficient solar radiation. Solar energy is a real solution for global warming. It is also a good strategy for providing electricity to remote villages and hamlets. We look forward to work together on this front under the International Solar Alliance.

Similarly, health sector is another area of great interest to both sides. We are happy that thousands of Kenyan patients have returned from India after a successful treatment. I understand that Kenya would like to replicate the Indian experience in Medicare and become a medical hub in the region. We would be happy to support you in this process.

These are just a few indicators of the depth of our relationship and the potentials for co-operation.


Friends!

  • Our predicament of the past is same;
  • Our problems of the present are same;
  • We have had common enemies;
  • Earlier it was colonialism;
  • Now it is poverty.

So, as we worked together in the past; we have to work together even now. Like Kenya, India is also a young country. Your workforce is sought after in Africa. Similarly, the Indian work force is sought after in the entire world. We can do a lot together to nurture and train this human capital which can serve the whole world.

Today, India is the fastest growing large economy of the world. We are not only having a high growth rate; we are also going up in various global indicators.

  • We have jumped 12 ranks in the latest global ranking on Ease of doing business by the World Bank.
  • India has also jumped 16 places on the World Economic Forum’s global competitive index.

Friends!

India has changed a lot in last two years. We are now the most preferred destination for FDI. In the year of 2015, we have received highest ever FDI. And for you the good news is that India is the largest trading partner of Kenya. India is also the second largest investor here. We will be happy to further remove the imbalance in trade between us. We will also be happy to enhance the level of investment in Kenya.

I am here to assure the people and Government of Kenya that India stands by you. Our friendship is only a win-win game. Whether it is Kenyan students in India; or Indian professionals in Kenya- both should shine. Whether it is mines, minerals or machines; all are rewarding areas. We should jointly explore the opportunities. Various initiatives during my visit including this meeting are indicators in that direction.

Friends!

I assure Kenya that India will always work to strengthen your processes and enrich your resources.

You may be knowing that we have launched 'Make in India' campaign to make India a global Manufacturing hub. Similarly, you have launched Make it Kenya to promote business and holiday opportunities. In fact, the two can become complimentary since our commitment is to make the future of the people and since the people are largely the same. Sweat of Indians has cemented the foundation of this nation. Indian blood has colored it's wings of freedom.It doesn't matter whether we Make in Kenya or Make in India.

And Friends!

As a demonstration of our commitment for Make it Kenya;

We have printed a guide book on Doing Business in Kenya.

This is for guiding the Indian Investors to invest here.

It is my pleasure to present the book to His Excellency the President of Kenya.

Thank You!

 

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PM Modi interacts with Rashtriya Bal Puraskar awardees
December 26, 2024

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi interacted with the 17 awardees of Rashtriya Bal Puraskar in New Delhi today. The awards are conferred in the fields of bravery, innovation, science and technology, sports and arts.

During the candid interaction, the PM heard the life stories of the children and encouraged them to strive harder in their lives. Interacting with a girl child who had authored books and discussing the response she received for her books, the girl replied that others have started writing their own books. Shri Modi lauded her for inspiring other children.

The Prime Minister then interacted with another awardee who was well versed in singing in multiple languages. Upon enquiring about the boy’s training by Shri Modi, he replied that he had no formal training and he could sing in four languages - Hindi, English, Urdu and Kashmiri. The boy further added that he had his own YouTube channel as well as performed at events. Shri Modi praised the boy for his talent.

Shri Modi interacted with a young chess player and asked him who taught him to play Chess. The young boy replied that he learnt from his father and by watching YouTube videos.

The Prime Minister listened to the achievement of another child who had cycled from Kargil War Memorial, Ladakh to National War Memorial in New Delhi, a distance of 1251 kilometers in 13 days, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Divas. The boy also told that he had previously cycled from INA Memorial, Moirang, Manipur to National War Memorial, New Delhi, a distance of 2612 kilometers in 32 days, to celebrate Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose, two years ago. The boy further informed the PM that he had cycled a maximum of 129.5 kilometers in a day.

Shri Modi interacted with a young girl who told that she had two international records of completing 80 spins of semi-classical dance form in one minute and reciting 13 Sanskrit Shokas in one minute, both of which she had learnt watching YouTube videos.

Interacting with a National level gold medal winner in Judo, the Prime Minister wished the best to the girl child who aspires to win a gold medal in the Olympics.

Shri Modi interacted with a girl who had made a self stabilizing spoon for the patients with Parkinson’s disease and also developed a brain age prediction model. The girl informed the PM that she had worked for two years and intends to further research on the topic.

Listening to a girl artiste who has performed around 100 performances of Harikatha recitation with a blend of Carnatic Music and Sanskrit Shlokas, the Prime Minister lauded her.

Talking to a young mountaineer who had scaled 5 tall peaks in 5 different countries in the last 2 years, the Prime Minister asked the girl about her experience as an Indian when she visited other countries. The girl replied that she received a lot of love and warmth from the people. She further informed the Prime Minister that her motive behind mountaineering was to promote girl child empowerment and physical fitness.

Shri Modi listened to the achievements of an artistic roller skating girl child who won an international gold medal at a roller skating event held in New Zealand this year and also 6 national medals. He also heard about the achievement of a para-athlete girl child who had won a gold medal at a competition in Thailand this month. He further heard about the experience of another girl athlete who had won gold medals at weightlifting championships in various categories along with creating a world record.

The Prime Minister lauded another awardee for having shown bravery in saving many lives in an apartment building which had caught fire. He also lauded a young boy who had saved others from drowning during swimming.

Shri Modi congratulated all the youngsters and also wished them the very best for their future endeavours.