President Droupadi Murmu has said that India is recognised as a responsible development partner and a voice of the Global South on the global stage, reflecting the country’s quest towards becoming a leading power. Addressing the Indian community in the Serbian capital on Wednesday, she also said that new infrastructure is coming up across India at a breathtaking pace and that the country hopes to be a developed nation by 2047, the centenary of its independence.
“India is undergoing a rapid and unprecedented transformation. India is the fastest-growing major economy in the world. With a GDP approaching USD 3.5 trillion, we are on our way to becoming the world’s third-biggest economy before the end of this decade. India is confidently pursuing its ambition to be a developed country by 2047,” the president said. “We are going through a phase of massive development in infrastructure, digital, green energy, and social transformation,” she said in her address soon after her arrival here on a state visit.
On the global stage, India is recognised as a responsible development partner, a first responder, and a voice of the global south, she said. “Each of these aspects reflects our quest towards becoming a leading power,” she said, referring to the leading role played by India on issues related to climate action, counter-terrorism, connectivity, maritime security, financial inclusion, and food security.
She said India as a civilization believes in “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”, which means the world is one family. India’s G-20 Presidency, which is based on the theme ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’, reflects the country’s centuries-old principle, she added. The president said that early indications suggest that India’s gender ratio is in favour of women and cited the results of the civil services exam, in which the top four positions were achieved by women.
Noting that India and Serbia are both ancient lands, the president said that in the modern era, India’s relations with Serbia were particularly defined in the context of the Non-Aligned Movement. She said that the busts of Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, and Rabindranath Tagore in Belgrade, the Josip Broz Tito Street in New Delhi, and the Tito roundabout in Jodhpur stand testimony to that historical connection.
She added that Serbia has been a valuable partner in India’s sustainable development cooperation programmes.
