Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently on a two-day visit to his home state Gujarat, on Tuesday announced that no village in India will be without electricity by the year 2018. PM Modi made the statement while giving an address at the annual general meeting of the African Development Bank (AfDP) in Gandhinagar.
Modi also said India and Africa's ties have become stronger over decades, and added that after he assumed office in 2014, he has made Africa one of the top priorities for India's foreign and economic policies.
"India's partnership with Africa is based on a model of cooperation which is responsive to needs of African countries, it is demand driven," Modi said at the meeting, adding that India is proud of its educational and technical ties with African nations.
"Africa and India trade has multiplied in the last 15 years and doubled in the last 5 years to US$ 72 billion in 2014-15. India has in the last three years improved on all macro economic indicators. We have made big strides in development sectors," the prime minister said.
By next year, no village in India will be without electricity: Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Gandhinagar, Gujarat pic.twitter.com/aDytQfFoVs
— ANI (@ANI_news) May 23, 2017
Modi, however, added that India still faces many challenges in its way to development, like uplifting the farmers and the poor of the country, and empowering its women.
"Our challenges also include ensuring our rural communities have access to finance, building infrastructure," Modi said.
India must be an engine of growth and an example in climate friendly development: PM Modi pic.twitter.com/MnmKTYYeNb
— ANI (@ANI_news) May 23, 2017
The prime minister said that despite the challenges, India has "made unprecedented increase" in capital investment in infrastructure covering railways, highways, power and gas pipeline.
