India would return to the growth path while the rest of the world was struggling with the coronavirus outbreak, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, even as the latest government data showed India's economy had in 2019-2020 grown at the slowest pace in 11 years.
“Getting growth back is our motto, too, as we reopen the economy. India will get its growth back,” said Modi in a video address at the Confederation of Indian Industry's (CII's) 125th annual session. This was four days after his government announced a plan to gradually lift a nationwide lockdown in force since March 24 to contain the spread of coronavirus.
"There are so many sectors where we can do phenomenally well on the world stage,” Modi said while speaking of an 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'—his campaign to reduce India’s dependence on foreign goods. "Atmanirbhar Bharat means we will be fully integrated with the world and fully supportive. However, always remember, we do not want to be dependent on others."