Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Minister, dropped a key insight during a recent conclave: development and trade aren’t rivals—they’re complements that supercharge India’s economy. This perspective comes at a time when the country is aggressively pursuing self-reliance alongside global integration.
Scindia unpacked the concept with data points. Improved highways have cut logistics costs by 10-14%, directly benefiting exporters. Similarly, 5G rollout and digital payments are streamlining B2B transactions.
In aviation—a sector close to his heart—Scindia noted the addition of 50+ airports since 2014, facilitating perishable goods exports and tourism-driven trade. ‘Every runway built is a trade route opened,’ he quipped.
The minister also touched on MSME empowerment, where schemes like Credit Guarantee Fund are enabling small traders to scale up. Amid global uncertainties, India’s diversified trade basket—from pharma to renewables—stands strengthened by domestic infra upgrades.
Experts echoed Scindia’s views, with economists predicting sustained GDP growth from this interplay. The event saw pledges for investments in green logistics, aligning with sustainable development goals.
In wrapping up, Scindia urged a mindset shift: view development as trade’s enabler and trade as development’s accelerator. For India aspiring to middle-income status, this formula could be transformative.