The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, honored the launching ceremony of Vindhyagiri, the sixth ship of the Indian Navy’s Project 17A at Garden Reach Shipbuilders Engineers Limited, Kolkata, West Bengal, today (17 August 2023).
Speaking on the occasion, the president said the launch of Vindhyagiri marks a step forward in improving India’s maritime capabilities. It is also a step towards achieving the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat through indigenous shipbuilding. Project 17A of which Vindhyagiri is a part reflects our commitment to self-sufficiency and technological advancement. This project demonstrates local innovation for the development of cutting-edge technology.
The President said that India is now the fifth largest economy in the world and we are striving to become the third largest economy in the near future. He added that the growing economy means higher volumes of trade and much of our commercial goods transit across the seas, which underscores the importance of the oceans for our growth and well-being.
The president said that security in the Indian Ocean region and the wider Indo-Pacific has many facets and the Navy must always remain proactive in addressing security threats.
Click here to watch the President’s speech –
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