SME Times is powered by   
Search News
Just in:   • Tiruppur powerloom weavers to begin indefinite strike from March 19 demanding wage hike  • Lok Sabha okays oilfield amendment bill to attract more investments  • Europe's major military powers reaffirm support for Ukraine  • Trump tariffs to drag down S. Korean economic growth, inflation: BOK  • India’s tea exports surge to 10-year high 
Last updated: 27 Feb, 2025  

amitabh-kant.jpg Global trade shifts open doors for India, it's time to lead cleantech: Amitabh Kant

amitabh-kant.jpg
   Top Stories
» Lok Sabha okays oilfield amendment bill to attract more investments
» India’s tea exports surge to 10-year high
» SEBI reduces timeline to complete rights issues to 23 days, effective from April 7
» Digital payments surge with over 18,120 crore transactions in FY25
» Bank credit to priority sectors jumped 85 pc to Rs 42.7 lakh crore in last 6 years: FM Sitharaman
IANS | 27 Feb, 2025

Geopolitical instability has disrupted global trade, creating a vacuum that India must use to boost its cleantech manufacturing and economic growth, former NITI Aayog CEO and India’s G20 Sherpa, Amitabh Kant said on Wednesday.

In his address at the annual Anil Agarwal Dialogue organised by the Centre for Science and Environment, Amitabh Kant highlighted India’s potential to become a global leader in battery manufacturing, electric two-wheeler, and three-wheeler production, and other sustainable industries.

"It's a huge opportunity for India to do battery manufacturing. If you do not do this, we will become a colony importing goods from China and our imports in all these clean tech manufacturing will become huge, much more than what we do in terms of oil," he said.

He recalled how China stepped up when US President Donald Trump withdrew from the Paris Agreement in 2016.

As a result, China now controls 80 per cent of the world's critical minerals. Amitabh Kant believes a similar opportunity is emerging, and India should seize it to strengthen its clean-tech sector.

However, he also pointed out weaknesses in India's municipal governance, stating that poor management has worsened pollution and urban challenges.

"If 42 of the cities in India are amongst the 50 worst polluting cities in the world, then there is a huge failure of municipal governance," he said.

He added that it has nothing to do with finances or the Central government.

He stressed the need for better pricing of water and electricity to prevent wastage, contending that free electricity has led to excessive groundwater extraction.

He suggested a pricing model where those who consume less should pay lower rates, while heavy consumers should pay significantly more.

"I entirely agree that water needs to be priced because India, with 17 per cent of the world's population, has just 4 per cent of water," he noted.

He added that 90 per cent of water is being consumed by agriculture.

“That means rice and sugar cane are consuming all your water. And we are actually exporting virtual water in the name of basmati rice," he noted.

Citing Singapore’s transformation from a per capita income of $600 in 1965 to $90,000 today, he said India can achieve similar success through governance and economic reforms.

 
Print the Page
Add to Favorite
 
Share this on :
 

Please comment on this story:
 
Subject :
Message:
(Maximum 1500 characters)  Characters left 1500
Your name:
 

 
  Customs Exchange Rates
Currency Import Export
US Dollar
84.35
82.60
UK Pound
106.35
102.90
Euro
92.50
89.35
Japanese Yen 55.05 53.40
As on 12 Oct, 2024
  Daily Poll
Do you think Indian businesses will be negatively affected by Trump's America First Policy?
 Yes
 No
 Can't Say
  Commented Stories
 
 
About Us  |   Advertise with Us  
  Useful Links  |   Terms and Conditions  |   Disclaimer  |   Contact Us  
Follow Us : Facebook Twitter