“This Is the Right Time to Invest in India”: Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan Highlights India’s Robust Economic Growth at 30th CII Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam

Vice-President of India C. P. Radhakrishnan graced the inaugural session of the 30th Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Partnership Summit as the Chief Guest in Visakhapatnam today.

Addressing a distinguished gathering of over 2,500 delegates including business leaders, policymakers, captains of industry, and global partners, the Vice-President underscored India’s accelerated industrial and economic growth under the leadership of Prime Minster Narendra Modi.

C. P. Radhakrishnan highlighted that uplifting crores of people from poverty is the greatest achievement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, made possible by stimulating sustained economic activity that generates wealth and opportunities.

The Vice-President praised the Government of Andhra Pradesh, led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, for creating one of the most conducive business environments in the country. He said the Chief Minister’s efforts in fostering innovation, infrastructure development, and a business-friendly ecosystem have positioned Andhra Pradesh as a national model for industrial growth.

The Vice-President elaborated on India’s position as the world’s fourth-largest economy and the fastest-growing major economy. He said the ease of doing business is at its best in India because reforms are taking place across every sector — be it labour laws, tax reforms, infrastructure development, or digital initiatives like Digital India. He said this is the right time to invest in India. He also highlighted that India now stands as the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem and is poised to become a leading exporter of clean technology, reinforcing the nation’s commitment to environmentally sustainable development.

C. P. Radhakrishnan reaffirmed India’s steadfast commitment to equitable and inclusive global collaborations, emphasizing that India treats all nations equally irrespective of their size. He expressed confidence in the State of Andhra Pradesh’s ambitious goal of achieving a trillion-dollar economy, emphasizing that this summit will serve as a pivotal platform for advancing technology, trust, and trade to foster inclusive growth and establish India as a global economic leader.

The Vice-President expressed optimism that Visakhapatnam will evolve into a paradise for investments and that Andhra Pradesh will become a hub for quantum technology and green hydrogen.

Governor of Andhra Pradesh, S. Abdul Nazeer; Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh,  N. Chandrababu Naidu; Union Minister of Commerce & Industry,Piyush Goyal; Union Minister of Civil Aviation,  Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu; Union Minister of State for Steel & Heavy Industries,  Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma; Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications, Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani; and other dignitaries were present at the summit.

The two-day 30th CII Partnership Summit, from 14th to 15th November 2025, is being organized by CII in partnership with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India and the Government of Andhra Pradesh. The state of Andhra Pradesh is hosting the summit for the fourth time.

The CII Summit is bringing together thought leaders, policymakers, industry captains, and global partners to shape the future of trade and investment. The theme for the summit is Technology, Trust and Trade: Navigating the New Geoeconomic Order. The marquee event features 45 sessions and 72 international speakers, with 2,500 delegates, including 300 overseas participants from 45 countries.

Visakhapatnam is the gateway to global trade; key for steel manufacturing, semi-conductor eco system and sea food: Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal at 30th CII Partnership Summit

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry,  Piyush Goyal, expressed that Visakhapatnam region today stands as a gateway to global trade—ranging from steel manufacturing to the emerging semiconductor ecosystem and seafood exports at the 30th CII Partnership Summit 2025 organized in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh today.

Goyal further said that India’s holistic development journey under the leadership of Prime Minister  Narendra Modi is firmly moving towards the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047. He stated that a developed and prosperous India will ensure that every state flourishes, every citizen enjoys a high quality of life, and every child born in Andhra Pradesh has a bright and secure future.

The Minister presented a three-pillar framework inspired by Chanakya’s Arthashastra to guide India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation by 2047.

The first pillar, Prosperity through Technology, reflects India’s digital and innovation-led growth. Shri Goyal said that India’s technology story is one of democratization, scale and speed, driven by talent and skill. He mentioned that India has built a world-class digital public infrastructure serving 1.74 billion citizens, with several countries expressing interest in adopting India’s UPI real-time payment system. Aadhar has provided every Indian with a secure digital identity, while India is building a comprehensive semiconductor ecosystem with current investments of $30 billion and growing. The India AI Mission, he said, is democratizing artificial intelligence for all. One billion Indians are now connected to the Internet, making India the second-largest user base of ChatGPT globally.

From launching the Mars Mission to deploying 104 satellites in one mission, India has demonstrated its capabilities in innovation and scale.  Goyal added that India has achieved an installed power capacity of 500 GW, with more than 51 per cent coming from renewable energy sources. The country plans to double clean energy capacity to 500 GW within the next five years, marking one of the fastest energy transitions globally.

He said that India offers its international partners not just markets but also collaborations for shared prosperity and mutual growth. India’s digital infrastructure, vibrant ecosystem and engineering talent provide a strong launchpad for globally scalable solutions.

The second pillar, Trust through Righteousness, highlights India’s increasing stature as a trusted global partner.   Goyal said that in the current geo-economic landscape, trust is the most valuable currency. India’s humanitarian efforts, including the free supply of COVID-19 vaccines and medicines to over 100 countries, have strengthened its global credibility.

He noted that India’s trust-based diplomacy is reflected in its expanding network of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). He mentioned the recently signed FTA with the United Kingdom and the operationalized FTA with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) bloc, which includes commitments of $100 billion in FDI and the creation of one million direct jobs. India has also signed FTAs with the UAE, Australia and Mauritius and is currently negotiating with the EU, the United States, Oman, New Zealand, Chile and Peru.

The Minister said that India’s credibility stems from predictability through regulatory reforms, transparency through digital governance and reliability in honoring commitments. He highlighted that India has removed more than 42,000 compliances and abolished 1,500 obsolete laws. He added that next-generation GST reforms are further improving ease of doing business and expanding consumer spending. “When you partner with India, you partner with a civilization that views relationships through Dharma—doing what is right,” he said.

The third pillar, Trade through Capability, underscores India’s growing global competitiveness. Shri Goyal said that India’s trade exports reached a record $825 billion last year despite global headwinds, while FDI inflows touched $81 billion—reflecting strong investor confidence. This growth, he said, is driven by the Make in India initiative, market diversification and movement up the value chain through technology investments. He recalled the words of economist Michael Porter, “National prosperity is created, not inherited,” and said that India’s economic growth embodies this principle.

Goyal proposed three key recommendations to expand global partnerships: facilitating two-way investments by lowering trade barriers and enabling freer movement of goods, services and capital; strengthening technology cooperation through co-development of frontier technologies and investment in high-impact innovation; and building trust through transparent governance and predictable policy frameworks that support long-term collaboration.

Highlighting Prime Minister  Narendra Modi’s belief in the ancient Indian wisdom of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—the world is one family— Goyal said that India’s prosperity rests on achieving self-reliance.

Andhra Pradesh is progressing under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu, who is working to build the state as Swarnandhra by 2047—prosperous, healthy and happy, the Union Minister added. The Minister said that India today stands at an inflection point in global history. The world order that shaped the last several decades is being rewritten, and in these turbulent, volatile and uncertain times, India stands as an oasis of stability and resilience. He recalled the words of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, who has said that “for global peace, stability and prosperity, the world’s most populous country must become self-reliant.”

The Union Minister also suggested that Andhra Pradesh build a permanent facility for organizing large-scale conferences, exhibitions and summits—similar to Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi—and proposed the name “Andhra Mandapam” for this world-class convention centre.

The Union Minister commended CII President Shri Rajeev Vemani and Secretary General Shri Chandrajit Banerjee for their dedicated efforts in advancing India’s growth and strengthening partnerships between government and industry through the CII Partnership Summit.