Prime Minister Modi, you are not just the pride of Gujarat. You are living proof that with hard work and devotion, Indians can accomplish anything, anything at all anything they want. The Prime Minister is a moving story of an incredible rise, and so does this entire nation. Your nation is doing so well. We are very, very proud of India. The story of the Indian nation is a tale of astounding progress, a miracle of democracy, extraordinary diversity, and above all, a strong and noble people. India gives hope to all of humanity. In just 70 years, India has become an economic giant, the largest democracy ever to exist, and one of the most amazing nations anywhere in the world.
Since the turn of the century, India’s economy has grown more than 6 times in size. In a single decade, India has lifted over 270 million people out of poverty. Under Prime Minister Modi, for the first time in history, every village in India now has access to electricity. 320 million people more Indians are right now connected to the Internet. The pace of highway construction has more than doubled, over 70 million more households. Think of this, 70 million more households have access to cooking fuel. 600 million more people have access to basic sanitation, and incredibly 12 Indian citizens are lifted out of extreme poverty every single minute of every single day.
India will soon be the home of the biggest middle class anywhere in the world, and within less than 10 years, extreme poverty in your country is projected to completely disappear. The potential for India is absolutely incredible. India’s rise as a prosperous and independent nation is an example to every nation all over the world and one of the most outstanding achievements of our century. It is all the more inspiring because you have done it. As a democratic country, you have done it, as a peaceful country you have done it as a tolerant country, and you have done it as a great free country.
There is all the difference in the world between a nation that seeks power through coercion, intimidation, and aggression. A nation that rises by setting its people free and unleashing them to chase their dreams and that is India. This is why India’s accomplishment over the last 70 years is completely unrivaled. No matter where you go, it is your faith in the strength of a free society, your confidence in your own people, your trust in your own citizens, and your respect for the dignity of every person that makes the United States and India is such a natural beautiful enduring friendship.
While our nations have many differences, they are both defined and propelled by a fundamental truth. The truth that all of us are blessed with divine light, and every person is endowed with a sacred soul. As the great religious teacher, Swami Vivekananda once said, “The moment I stand in reference before every human being, and she got in him, that moment I am free.” In America and in India, we know that we are all born for a higher purpose to reach toward our fullest potential, to work toward excellence and perfection, and to give all glory to God.
Powered by this spirit, Indians and Americans are always striving to be greater. Our people are always seeking to be better, and so our nations have become thriving centers of culture and commerce and civilization. Giving light and vitality to all of the world. This is the country that produces nearly 2,000 movies a year from the hub of genius and creativity known as ‘Bollywood.’ All over the planet, people take great joy and scenes of Bhangra, music dance, romance, and drama at classic Indian films like DD LJ and Sholay.
This is the country where your people cheer on some of the world’s greatest cricket players from Sachin Tendulkar to Virat Kohli. The greatest in the world. This is the country that built the tallest statue on the face of the earth to my honor the namesake of this stadium, the great Indian patriot a native of this state, Sardar Patel.
India is the country where hundreds of billions of light candles to celebrate the triumph of good over evil at Diwali. And its where just days from now Indians of all faiths will pour out onto the streets to celebrate the beautiful festival of Holi. It is a country that proudly embraces freedom, liberty, individual rights, the rule of law, and the dignity of every human being. Your nation has always been admired around the earth as the place where millions upon millions of Hindus and Muslims, and Sikhs, and James, Buddhists, Christians, and Jews worship side-by-side in harmony.
Where you speak more than 100 languages and come from more than two dozen states yet, you have always stood strong as one great Indian nation. Your unity is an inspiration to the world. In America, we have come to know the splendor of Indian culture personally through the four million Indian Americans living in the United States. As our wonderful friends, colleagues, and neighbors, they are truly spectacular people. Indian Americans enrich every aspect of our national life. They are Titans of business, the biggest the best, pioneers of science, masters of the art and innovation of technology like few people have been able to see no matter where you go anywhere in this universe. Nearly one in four Indian Americans trace their roots right here in Gujarat. Gujarat is a special place.
So, on behalf of the entire American people, thank you, and thank you all for the contributions your culture traditions have made to my beloved country. The Prime Minister and I will also continue our important discussions about how to deepen the relationship between our two great countries. Both of us understand that when leaders put the interests of their own citizens first, we can forge strong and fair partnerships to build a safer and more prosperous world. Just months ago, this critical partnership took a major step forward when the US military and your brave Indian Armed Forces conducted the first-ever air land and sea military exercises between our two countries.
It was something to behold. We called it Tiger Triumph. As we continue to build our defense cooperation, the United States looks forward to providing India with some of the best and most feared military equipment on the planet. We make the greatest weapons ever made. Airplanes, missiles, rockets, ships. We make the best, and we’re dealing now with India. But this includes advanced air defense systems and armed and unarmed aerial vehicles. I am pleased to announce that tomorrow our representatives will sign deals to sell over $3 billion in the absolute finest state-of-the-art military helicopters and other equipment to the Indian Armed Forces.
I believe that the United States should be India’s premier defense partner, and that’s the way it’s working out. Together, we will defend our sovereignty security and protect a free and open Indo Pacific region for our children and, for many, many generations to come. We are in the early stages of discussion for an incredible trade agreement to reduce barriers of investment between the United States and India. I am optimistic that working together the Prime Minister and I can reach a fantastic deal, that’s good and even great for both of our countries. Except that he’s a very tough negotiator.
Since my inauguration, commerce between our two nations has increased by more than 40%. India is now a major market for American exports, and the United States is India’s largest export market. A booming America is a great thing for India, and it’s great for the world. And that’s why we’re so happy to announce that we have had the greatest economy ever in the history of the United States. In America, we have proven that the best way to attract jobs and opportunity is to reduce burdens on business, knocked out barriers to new investment, and eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy red tape regulation and taxes.
Prime Minister Modi has already made significant reforms here in your country, as you very well know. The world looks forward to even more rapid improvement to India’s business climate under his leadership. He wants to do it, and he’s doing it at a record pace. 2 years ago, Prime Minister Modi warmly welcomed my daughter Ivanka to the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Hyderabad, and she is back with us today, Ivanka thank you, thank you for being here. We are delighted to be joined as well by dozens of Indian women entrepreneurs who are helping to build your nation’s future. They are great and natural entrepreneurs. And I just say to the men, be very careful they’re really good.
The United States and India are also working closely together on the future of space exploration. You are making impressive strides with your exciting Chandrayaan Lunar program. It is moving along rapidly far ahead of schedule in America looks forward to expanding our space cooperation. Within India, as you push even further, you are pushing the limits, and that’s a great thing including in the realm of Human Spaceflight. The United States and India will be friends and partners on our voyage into the Stars and into space. It is truly extraordinary what this nation has achieved in the span of just one lifetime. What they have done under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, it is absolutely incredible. Mr. Prime Minister congratulations.
You have come so far, but it is nothing compared to with how far India will go into the future. And the Prime Minister is laying the foundations for a future like few other countries can even think of. This nation is blessed with many treasures, from the sacred banks of the Ganges to the golden temple and the Jamia Masjid. It is the home to some of the most cherished cultural heritage anywhere on earth. It is also the land of stunning vestas and astounding natural wonders, from the rugged peaks of the Himalayas to the splendid shores of Goa.
India has always been a wellspring of deep wisdom and great ideas from the vestas and the ancient epics all the way to the modern Indian nation. But standing before all of you today, I know that true strength of India is not found in its textbooks, its landmarks, or its landscapes. The true strength of India is found in 125,000 beating hearts in this stadium and the millions and millions of people who have seen and witness great friendship and admiration today. It is all found in the soul and the spirit of the Indian people.
Your courage won and secured this nation’s independence. Your devotion built this great and enduring democracy. It is your dreams that will power this country to a future, even greater progress, prosperity, equality, and opportunity for every citizen across your land. So, today I say to every Indian, North and South, Hindu and Muslim, Jewish and Christian, rich and poor, young and old, take pride in the glories of your past. Unite for an even brighter future and let our two nations always stand together as powerful defenders of peace and liberty and the hope of a better world for all of humanity.
Thank you again, Prime Minister Modi, for your hospitality, and thank you, India, for this phenomenal welcome. I want to just leave by saying God bless India; God bless the United States of America. We love you; we love you, India very much. Thank you. Thank you.”