Addressing the business persons from both India and Sri Lanka at the forum organised by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce at the Taj Samudra Hotel on Friday, March 13, Modi said he is prepared work with Sri Lanka to address them. “I want balanced growth in trade. We will try to make it easier and smoother for you to access the Indian market. That is part of my philosophy of ease of doing business in India. Our agreement on Customs cooperation is a step in that direction,” he said.
Following is the full text of Indian Prime Minister’s speech:
“I am delighted to be here at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.
Thank you for coming here in such large numbers. It is a real honour to visit Sri Lanka. Over the course of these two days, I will meet people from all walks of life. For me, this is one of the most important meetings in Sri Lanka.This is because no matter how old and strong the relationship is, economic cooperation is often the locomotive that gives it momentum. It is also important because for all of us in our region, the most important priority is transforming the lives of our people. Our path will be determined by our economic choices and the quality of governance. But, business enterprises will remain critical for our success.
I often say that a nation's fortunes are linked to its neighbourhood. There are many in India who would argue that India is too large to need her neighbours. There are many in our region who worry that India's economic size will hurt them. I disagree with both views. For one, we all need a stable and peaceful neighbourhood to concentrate on national development.indian media