Explore limitless potential of Uttarakhand: PM Modi to investors

Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Friday that Uttarakhand has immense potential - ranging from nature, culture and heritage to yoga, Ayush, pilgrimage and adventure sports - and appealed to potential investors to do business in the hill state. He urged the people to make "vocal for local, and local for global" their goal and build products which have buyers in the international market.

Addressing the Investors' Summit of Uttarakhand, the prime minister underlined that investors should note the presence of "policy driven governance, political stability and a strong drive". He said the aspirational India does not want instability but a stable government.

"If you do a short analysis, you will find there is aspiration, hope, self-confidence, innovation and opportunity everywhere in India," he said, adding that the results of the recent Vidhan Sabha elections where the vote has been for the track record of stability and good governance. The country is in a different league today despite the challenges of the pandemic and the recent wars.


Enumerating the various strengths of Uttarakhand, the prime minister said it has great connectivity with roads not only in villages but also the Char Dhams.

"The distance between Delhi and Dehradun will soon be covered in 2.5 hours," Modi said, adding that air connectivity and the helicopter services are growing. "There is a golden opportunity here for every investor," the prime minister said. The state has immense untapped potential that should be harnessed. This includes the tourism sector, including theme based tourism.

He congratulated the state for its "House of Himalaya" brand launch and insisted the "vocal for local" and "local for global" will get a boost. "The local products have the potential to stand out in the foreign markets," he said.

There should also be no laxity in providing the best quality. "National character has to be strengthened and our standards should be the best. We should aspire for zero effect, zero defect," he said.

More emphasis on Atmanirbhar should also be the motto, the prime minister said, lamenting that India has to import Rs 15 lakh crore of crude oil, Rs 4 Lakh Crore of coal, and Rs 15,000 Cr of pulses. Our farmers should grow these pulses and get the profits, he said.

The prime minister also appealed to the "millionaires and billionaires" to "Wed in India", hold destination weddings in the country instead of going abroad.

"It is said that marriages are ordained by God. I fail to understand that when God is deciding the couples then instead of falling at the feet of God, the couples go abroad to start their new journey. Like Make in India, we should have a Wed in India movement. These days there is a fashion among billionaires to hold marriages in other countries," he said.

The prime minister suggested that if 5000 destination weddings are held in Uttarakhand every year, a new infrastructure will come up and greatly benefit the economy of the state.