Gujarat: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of development projects worth over ₹34,200 crore at the ‘Samudra se Samriddhi’ event in Bhavnagar, Gujarat. Addressing the gathering against the backdrop of the Arabian Sea, Modi issued a clarion call for self-reliance, stating, “Whether it is chips or ships, they must be made in India.”
The Prime Minister underlined that India’s greatest adversary is not an external enemy but over-dependence on foreign powers. “The more foreign dependence, the greater the national failure,” he said, stressing that for global peace, stability, and prosperity, the world’s most populous country must achieve self-reliance
Modi highlighted a historic policy decision granting infrastructure status to large ships, a move expected to ease financing for shipbuilders and strengthen India’s maritime industry. He described the sector as the “Mother of All Industries,” creating massive multiplier effects across steel, electronics, textiles, and IT.
The projects launched include the Mumbai International Cruise Terminal, new terminals at Paradip and Kolkata, the Tuna Tekra Multi-Cargo Terminal, and coastal protection works across India. Gujarat also saw the inauguration of LNG terminals, renewable energy plants, and hospital expansions.
Reiterating his vision of a developed India by 2047, Modi said India will triple its share in global maritime trade and transform its coastlines into “gateways of prosperity.” He called upon citizens and shopkeepers alike to embrace indigenous products with pride, turning every festival into a celebration of Swadeshi.
