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Rajnath Singh briefed the Indian diaspora in Tajikistan on India's economic and technological progress. His remarks positioned reforms, trade and innovation as drivers of India's expanding global role.
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Dushanbe,Oct 20, 2026 22:22 IST
India is growing at about 7.8 per cent and contributes more than 16 per cent to global economic growth despite a slowdown in several major economies, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday, according to news agency Press Trust of India.
Addressing the Indian diaspora during a two-day official visit to Tajikistan for a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting, Singh outlined India's economic growth, reforms, technological progress and expanding global role.
Singh said several major economies were slowing because of the conflict in West Asia. India, meanwhile, had signed free trade agreements with 38 countries, opening new markets for Indian manufacturers and producers.
He said the India-UK and India-EU trade agreements, which are expected to remove tariffs on 99 per cent of Indian exports, would strengthen the country's trade prospects and global economic partnerships.
Singh said India, guided by the philosophy of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', aspired to combine prosperity, knowledge and strength with a commitment to global peace and the well-being of humanity.
"India's economic transformation, reform-driven governance, technological advancement and growing global stature under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership are paving the way towards the realisation of this vision," he said.
"India has moved from an era of 'policy paralysis' to a 'reform express' driven by a clear policy direction. For us, reforms are not a compulsion; they are a conviction," Singh said.
According to PTI, the minister said defence exports had reached a record Rs 38,424 crore, while defence production had risen to Rs 1.80 lakh crore.
"The number of start-ups has grown from a few hundred before 2014 to more than 2.5 lakh, and nearly half of these start-ups originate from smaller cities and towns," he said.
Singh said India's renewable energy capacity had increased from about 75 gigawatts in 2014 to nearly 300 gigawatts. He added that the country was moving rapidly towards semiconductor manufacturing through the Semicon India programme and the India Semiconductor Mission.
He said India had emerged as a global centre for real-time digital transactions, with the value of Unified Payments Interface transactions rising from Rs 7,000 crore in 2016-17 to Rs 314 lakh crore in 2025-26. Affordable mobile data and wider connectivity had also enabled more Indians to access opportunities, he said.
Highlighting inclusive development, Singh said about 25 crore people had been lifted out of poverty over the past decade.
The minister also praised efforts to strengthen cultural and people-to-people ties between India and Tajikistan. He said the countries shared longstanding cordial relations and that the Indian diaspora remained an important link between them.
Singh noted that Indian songs, music, literature and cinema were popular among Tajik people. The event also featured cultural performances by Indian and Tajik artists.
Singh's address focused on India's economic growth, trade agreements, defence production, start-ups, renewable energy, digital transactions and efforts to deepen ties with Tajikistan.
With PTI Inputs
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