COIMBATORE: Union minister of state for information and broadcasting L Murugan on Saturday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is successfully carrying forward the Swadeshi movement pioneered by freedom fighter V O Chidambaranar in 1906.Murugan was speaking at the inaugural function of the ‘Coimbatore Swadeshi Mela’ conducted by the Swadeshi Jagran Manch at Rathinam Grand auditorium in Eachanari to promote indigenous manufacturing. The exhibition will run till August 10.Murugan recalled that a Swadeshi exhibition held in Coimbatore in 2001 was inaugurated by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He said India, which faced economic slowdown and corruption-related challenges before 2014, has become the world’s fifth-largest economy in the last 10 years, overtaking the UK.Murugan said domestic production increased from Rs 6.57 lakh crore in 2014-15 to Rs 331 lakh crore in a decade, while the state domestic product has doubled.Citing investment trends, he said India recorded a 143% increase in investments during 2014-2024, and foreign investment in the manufacturing sector rose to $165 billion, up 69%.Murugan said the Centre had scrapped 1,500 “unnecessary” laws and improved India’s Ease of Doing Business ranking from 142 in 2014 to 63. Referring to the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, he said Rs 1.97 lakh crore was earmarked across 14 key sectors, resulting in Rs 1.6 lakh crore in investments, over Rs 12.5 lakh crore in production and sales, Rs 4 lakh crore in exports, 9.5 lakh jobs, and the creation of 1,300 new manufacturing units nationwide.He said Coimbatore had emerged as a fast-growing industrial region, including as a hub for defence manufacturing and exports. “When it comes to MSMEs in India, Coimbatore stands out,” he said.Linking the current Swadeshi push to Chidambaranar’s 1906 movement, Murugan said events like the Coimbatore Swadeshi Mela would encourage domestic producers and help create new entrepreneurs.On the startup ecosystem, Murugan said India had about 400 startups in 2014, which has now grown to around two lakh with Tamil Nadu accounting for 12,000. He said many startups are led by CEOs under 30 and that over 50% have women CEOs.The mela features over 40 stalls displaying indigenous products including grinders, pumps, drones, apparel and food items.
