ગુજરાતી
English
Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi today inaugurated the first-ever multi-locational 12-day Shopping Festival in Ahmedabad.
Speaking on the occasion, he said the Ahmedabad city is making giant strides from a
modest trade centre selling cheap goods at weekly Gurjari haat to an industrial hub. When
small traders join hands to host shopping festivals, these provide a new market, a new
platform. Such festivals help customers buy quality goods at competitive prices, and help
traders win the customers’ confidence. He wished the festival be made an annual feature in
a particular time of the year.
He asked the people to carry on the process of development, the economic activity keep
the nation’s economy humming. Shopping festivals are quite common abroad.
Mr. Modi gave details of the huge relief extended to Small and Medium Scale
Entrepreneurs (SME) by the GST Council. The exemption limit for GST registration
increased from Rs.20-lakh to Rs.40-lakh. The SMEs contribute to 40 per cent of India’s total exports.
He said the government simplified procedures of starting industries and environment. They
need not run around different offices, in a way implementing Ease of Doing Business,
revising up India’s rank from 142 to 77. The government also gives big relief to exporters.
Mr. Modi emphasized that the world market is waiting for the new India, which would benefit
the small entrepreneurs. The manufacturers should take advantage of Indian credit built in
foreign countries and should make good brandings for their products. He also pointed out
that Indian Khadi has become a part of fashion industry in India and abroad.
Informing the small and medium scale industrialists about the newly introduced Central
Government’s Online Platform, Mr. Modi said that the online purchasing have been initiated
with linking these manufacturers and traders. This way, so far, purchasing of Rs. 16500-
crore has been made.
Mr. Modi also visited the stalls at Shopping Festival. He also unveiled the statue of Dr.
Vikram Sarabhai.
Keeping the future vision of the Prime Minister as the centre-point of his address, Chief
Minister Mr. Vijaybhai Rupani stated that the success of Vibrant Gujarat has attracted
investment worth of several hundred crore rupees and generated large number
employments in the state.
Mr. Rupani said Ahmedabad city and its traders have built a brand. In the coming days the
Shopping Festival will give necessary impetus to the trades and businesses of the Gujarat.
Welcoming the decision of Prime Minister to allocate 10 % reservation to unreserved
economically weaker sections, Mr. Rupani stated it would be a historical decision for the
social equanimity in the coming days. Gujarat was the first state to welcome it, he added.
