Indian PM Urges Citizens to Buy Local Products

(MENAFN) Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged citizens to prioritize domestically produced goods over foreign imports, stressing the importance of self-reliance as India faces mounting trade challenges, including new tariffs imposed by the United States. His remarks, delivered during a televised address on Sunday, came just one day ahead of the country's implementation of sweeping indirect tax reforms aimed at boosting consumption.

Modi emphasized that for India to realize its ambition of becoming a developed nation by 2047, it must first become self-sufficient. "A lot of products we use daily are foreign made, we just don't know... we will have to get rid of them," he said. "We should buy products that are made in India."

The call for self-reliance, known as the "Swadeshi" movement, echoes historical efforts to reduce reliance on foreign goods, particularly during the fight for India's independence. This comes at a time when tensions with Washington are escalating. Last month, the US imposed a 25% penalty tariff on most Indian imports, citing New Delhi's purchases of Russian oil, in addition to similar duties introduced after the breakdown of trade talks between India and the US.

Modi further urged households to embrace “Swadeshi” as a symbol of pride, encouraging individuals to declare “I buy Swadeshi” and “I sell Swadeshi.” "Every household should make Swadeshi a symbol, and every shop should showcase Indian-made goods," he said.

The Prime Minister also called on India's state governments to bolster manufacturing and create a favorable environment for investment.

India, with its 1.4 billion-strong population, represents a significant market for multinational consumer goods. However, recent pressures from the Trump administration to open the country’s agriculture and dairy sectors to American corporations have sparked calls for a boycott of US products.

Before his televised address, Modi made additional remarks at an event in Gujarat, stating that India’s true adversary is not a foreign nation but rather its dependence on external powers. "If we remain at the mercy of others, our self-respect will also be hurt… We cannot risk our future generations on others," he added.

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