THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Deepu Ravi, Editor-in-Chief of Kerala Kaumudi said that India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going through extraordinary changes at a rapid pace. He was delivering the introductory speech at the Emerging Bharat Growing Kerala Conclave organized by Kerala Kaumudi.

India is emerging as the third economic power. The Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan project has helped achieve self-sufficiency in technology, infrastructure development, defense, education and health sectors. Currently the fifth largest economy, India has made great strides in digital technology. UPI, an indigenously developed payment interface, is currently the dominant system for global payments. India has become a major arms exporter by developing an indigenous research and production ecosystem.

The country's highway network has increased from 90,000 km in 9 years to 145,000 km in 2023. Airports increased from 74 to 148. The idea of ​​Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam was made a reality by providing India-developed Covaxin to more than 90 countries through the Vaccine Maitri project.

Under the leadership of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Kerala is also moving forward with a sense of direction. Kerala has achieved a 22.1 percent increase in revenue income, behind Gujarat and Maharashtra, and is ranked third in the country. Kerala is the first state to implement complete e-governance and make around 260 services available digitally to the people. 900 crore tax revenue GAIL pipeline project was completed during this period. Kochi Water Metro is a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country with 78 hybrid boats connecting 10 island communities to the land.

Deepu Ravi said that it is in this context of comprehensive development that an economic conclave called Emerging Bharat Growing Kerala was organized to pave the way for Kerala and the Center to work together for the growth of Kerala and it will give impetus to the growth of Kerala.