New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the interim trade agreement with the United States is further evidence of the international community’s growing trust in India and said the recent series of trade deals mark India’s transformation from a huge market to an investment and trade hub. “Whether it is the UK, the UAE, Australia, New Zealand, Oman, the EU or the US, countries have concluded trade deals with India. Trust has become India’s strongest currency,” he said while speaking at an event for the Indian community in Kuala Lumpur, eliciting a roaring response from an estimated 10,000 spectators. He said India was earlier seen as a huge market but now is seen as an investment and trade hub. India is seen as a trusted growth partner, he added. The Prime Minister said the trade agreement framework reflects the deepening depth, trust and dynamism of the partnership between India and the United States. “I thank President Trump for his personal commitment to the strong relationship between our two countries,” the Prime Minister said. This reinforces’Made in IndiaProviding new opportunities to India’s hardworking farmers, entrepreneurs, MSMEs, entrepreneurial innovators, fishermen, etc., and will create large-scale employment opportunities for women and youth, he added. “India and the United States share a commitment to promoting innovation and this framework will further deepen our investment and technology partnership,” he said, adding that the framework would also strengthen resilient and trustworthy supply chains and contribute to global growth. “As India moves towards building a ‘Viksit Bharat’, we remain committed to building future-proof global partnerships that empower our people and contribute to shared prosperity,” Modi said. The prime minister has been optimistic about recent trade deals, especially big-ticket deals with the EU and the United States, which he celebrated in closed-door meetings with ruling coalition lawmakers and in speeches in parliament as global recognition of India’s growing economic clout. The opposition is likely to propose a deal with the US when Parliament meets on Monday as Congress and other parties accuse the government of harming India’s interests.
