Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
Accra, Jul 3: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a landmark address to Ghana’s Parliament on Thursday, declared that India is on track to becoming the world’s third-largest economy, driven by a decade of transformation, stable governance, and expanding global influence. Speaking to an esteemed house in Accra, Modi highlighted India’s rapid economic ascent, stating that the country now contributes nearly 16% to global growth and leads as the fastest-growing emerging economy.
On the global stage, Modi noted, India’s demographic advantage is beginning to pay off. “We now have the world’s third-largest start-up ecosystem. India is a hub of innovation and technology where global companies are eager to converge,” he said, reinforcing India’s image as a magnet for future-ready industries.
Celebrating India’s scientific and technological achievements, he called the country the “Pharmacy of the World” and pointed to recent milestones such as the lunar landing and the nation’s growing human spaceflight programme. “Indian women today lead in science, space, aviation, and sports,” he added with pride.
Addressing a broader vision, Modi reminded that India has resolved to become a developed nation by 2047 — the centenary of its independence — and called upon the international community, especially Africa, to join India on this shared journey of growth.
Expressing solidarity with Ghana and the African continent, Modi reiterated India’s commitment to South-South cooperation, referencing India’s diplomatic expansion to 46 African nations and its ongoing support through over 200 infrastructure and development projects across the continent.
He also recalled the 2015 India-Africa Summit in New Delhi and India’s hosting of the African Development Bank’s annual meeting in 2017, emphasising a legacy of deepening partnership. In Ghana specifically, Modi cited the completion of the Tema–Mpakadan rail line — the largest infrastructure project in the region — as a major milestone in Indo-African collaboration.
Highlighting Ghana’s potential as a digital and innovation hub under the African Continental Free Trade Area, Modi said, “Together, we will shape a future full of promise and progress.”
In a moment of high diplomatic honour, Prime Minister Modi was awarded the Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana — the country’s highest civilian honour — by President John Mahama. Modi described the award as a "matter of immense pride" and a symbol of enduring friendship between India and Ghana.