Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal urged the industry associations to engage with startups and be active in encouraging young leadership in the chambers. He urged the attendees to involve more women entrepreneurs in the industry associations.

Speaking about the potential of tourism in augmenting a country’s economy during his address at the Annual Plenary Session of Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) today in New Delhi, the Union Minister said that industry bodies must promote tourism through their representative offices spread across  the world. We have to take it upon ourselves to develop language skills, he said. He continued that the language barrier of the citizens can be removed to unlock jobs like interpreters, tour operators in the tourism sector. The Minister further said that there is demand for jobs which are available but there is a need to bridge the gap through skill development. India will lead the world in tourism and hospitality, he said.

Shri Goyal evoked Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s mantra of Reform, Perform and Transform, and also urged the participants to inform the world about the country’s progress. We can take the emerging trends of India to the rest of the world, the powerhouse of clean energy that India will become, he said.

The Union Minister further said that there is a need to inform the world about India’s foray into AI, machine learning, data analytics and its efforts to enhance India’s GDP from being the fifth largest in the world to becoming the third largest economy. He said that in PM Modi’s third term, three times the energy, three times the effort and commitment is needed for larger and better outcomes.

Speaking about Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s efforts to empower nation’s youth through digital connectivity, Shri Goyal said that the aspirational section of the society deserves Government’s attention the most and so the Government is focusing on making them a part of the journey towards a Viksit Bharat by 2047. Mentioning the launch of PM schemes during Budget 2024, the Minister encouraged the industry bodies and their members to join the Government to provide opportunities for the youth to improve skill development and generation of employment. Inclusiveness is going to define the success story of India, he said.

He also praised the organisation for setting a precedent in including the youth to take leadership roles and congratulated ICC for being the voice of 35 various sectors.