Addressing the 22nd Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit here on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that as the world faces challenges of economic recovery after the global Covid-19 pandemic, the role of the SCO is very important.
Speaking in Hindi, the Prime Minister said that the bloc contributes to 30 per cent of the global GDP, while 40 per cent of the world's population resides in the member countries.
He went on to say that the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and the global pandemic have led to disruptions in global supply chains, leaving the world facing unprecedented energy and food crises.
Hence, the SCO should strive to develop "reliable, resilient and diversified" supply chains in the region, Modi added.
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The Prime Minister announced the establishment of a new working group on startups and innovation, adding that the country is also making progress towards becoming a manufacturing hub.
He said that India's economy is expected to grow 7.5 per cent this year, which is the highest among the world's biggest economies.
He also spoke about food security, which he termed as a major challenge, and suggested that the cultivation and consumption of millets could be a possible solution.
The Prime Minister called millets "superfood", adding that it could be a nutritious and low-cost alternative to overcome the food challenge.
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Modi went on to say that 2023 will be celebrated as the UN International Year of Millets and "we should consider organizing a 'Millet Food Festival' under SCO".
In his address, he also touted India as one of the most affordable countries for medical and wellness tourism and urged the SCO member nations to cooperate in the field of traditional medicine.
PM pushes for full right to transit within SCO member countries
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the SCO Summit has pushed for full right to transit within the member countries.
In his address in Hindi, the Prime Minister said: "The pandemic and the crisis in Ukraine caused many obstacles in global supply chains, due to which the whole world is facing an unprecedented energy and food crisis. SCO must make efforts to develop reliable, resilient and diversified supply chains in our region. This will require better connectivity, as well as it will be important that we all give each other full right to transit."
He said that the role of SCO becomes very important as SCO member countries contribute about 30 per cent of global GDP, and 40 per cent of the world's population also lives in SCO countries. India supports greater cooperation and mutual trust among SCO members.
He also said that India's economy is expected to grow by 7.5 per cent this year, which will be the highest among the world's largest economies. A lot of focus is also being given on the proper use of technology in our people-centric development model. We are supporting innovation in every sector.
Today, there are more than 70,000 Start-ups in India, of which more than 100 are unicorns.
"Our experience can also be useful for many other SCO members. For this purpose, we are ready to share our experience with SCO member countries by establishing a new Special Working Group on Start-ups and Innovation," he added.
The PM asserted that India is today one of the most affordable destinations for medical and wellness tourism in the world. WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine was inaugurated in Gujarat in April 2022. This will be WHO's first and only global centre for traditional medicine.
"We must increase cooperation on traditional medicine among SCO countries. For this, India will take the initiative for a new SCO Working Group on Traditional Medicine," he added.
