In an interview to CNBC-TV18, Karan Bilimoria, Founder and Chairman, Cobra Beer shares his views on India and Narendra Modi government from the sidelines of 7th Vibrant Gujarat Summit. Below is verbatim transcript of the interview:
Q: What is your opinion on the Summit?
A: I think it’s been the most inspirational morning with brilliant speeches. The Prime Minister of Bhutan was outstanding, John Kerry, Secretary of State, US made a very good speech and Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a fabulous speech, the content was outstanding and shows how much he has achieved in just a matter of seven months.
I spoke at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas and I remember speaking about soft power and I said soft power in its own is good but soft power backed by hard power and combined with hard power makes smart power and Modi has that amazing hard power, soft power.
He uses the word ‘taqat’ in his speeches. Modi is smart power and India has the potential to have enormous smart power.
Q: Will that translate into investments into India especially in its Make in India campaign?
A: Absolutely. Make in India campaign is so important for me, with my business Cobra, manufacturing is absolutely key and that’s what we are - manufacturers and manufacturing creates job.
In UK we were neglecting manufacturing for many years and for the past few years we are putting emphasis on manufacturing, its 10 percent of our gross domestic product (GDP) and not only manufacturing but good quality manufacturing.
Modi constantly emphasises the quality of manufacturing and the more you encourage manufacturing, the more you encourage Make in India, the more jobs will be created which is essential and linked to that is skills.
He setup this amazing new ministry of skills and entrepreneurship. To have entrepreneurship in the name of ministry is wonderful.
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