Modi highlights FTAs, skilling at Rozgar Mela

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the government was working on multiple fronts to expand employment opportunities for the youth, citing Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), skilling initiatives and a Rs 1 lakh crore employment incentive scheme aimed at bringing two crore young people into the formal workforce.

Addressing a ‘Rozgar Mela’ (Jobs Fair) virtually, he also said the talent and skills of India’s youth had won the trust of the entire world, which has great expectations from Indian innovators, entrepreneurs and the country’s youthful strength.

“India signed 40 Free Trade Agreements. These FTAs are opening new doors of possibilities for our youth. Such trade agreements pave the way for new partnerships for our entrepreneurs, open paths to new markets, and create new possibilities in careers for our youth,” Modi said. At the function, he distributed more than 51,000 appointment letters virtually to newly selected youth, who will join various government departments and organisations.

Referring to the just-concluded BRICS Summit, Modi said India’s effort had been to ensure that BRICS cooperation did not remain limited to governments alone. “Our entrepreneurs, our farmers, our women, our youth — everyone should become an active partner in this partnership,” he said. He said initiatives such as BRICS CONNECT and the BRICS MSME Cooperation Portal were aimed at bringing entrepreneurs, farmers, women and youth into such partnerships.

Referring to the country’s startup ecosystem, the prime minister said India’s youth power was reflected in it and that the startup ecosystem was no longer limited to big cities but had expanded to smaller cities as well.

“India is today the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem. And India’s startup story is no longer just the story of big cities. Today, nearly half of recognised startups are in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities,” he said.

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