Union Minister Mr. Nitin Gadkari calls for import cuts, export push to make India 3rd-largest economy
- IBEF
- January 8, 2026
Union Minister Mr. Nitin Gadkari is pushing for a decisive shift in India's economic strategy trim imports, ramp up exports, and promote fast-tracking of domestic manufacturing to position India as the world's third-largest economy. He pitches that decreasing the dependence on imported products, especially crude oil and high-value components, would strengthen local industries, conserve foreign exchange, and give it much-needed resilience. He cites innovative ideas such as those of converting farm waste to bio-bitumen for road construction as one way to cut imports of crude oil while offering an ecological dividend in the bargain. This is not just about reducing the trade deficit but sharpening the competitiveness of Indian products on the global stage by pushing up value addition and reducing inefficiencies along supply chains.
India pursues trade diversification in view of negotiating free trade agreements, backing exporters for a break-in into new markets. Government efforts to support exporters participation in international fairs and incentives for MSMEs are continuously being pursued to widen India's presence in world trade. Simultaneously, the policy push for stronger logistics, simpler export procedures, and greater competitiveness is underway. According to Union Minister Mr. Nitin Gadkari, such efforts will help sustain growth, foster self-reliance, help India reach bold foreign-trade targets, and move nearer to becoming a major global economic power.
Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.
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