Prime Minister Narendra Modi has amplified his call for "atmanirbharta" (self-reliance) amidst rising global protectionism, emphasizing the need for India to manufacture everything from semiconductor chips to ships within its borders. Speaking at the 'Samudra se Samriddhi' event in Bhavnagar, Gujarat on Saturday, September 20, 2025, Modi stressed that dependence on other nations is India's primary adversary. He inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for development projects worth over ₹34,200 crore across various sectors.

Modi asserted that true self-reliance is the solution to the country's problems. He criticized the Congress party's policies after independence, alleging that they deliberately neglected India's inherent competence, leading to excessive dependence on imports and substantial financial losses. He claimed that the Congress party entangled the country in a "license and quota raj" and opted for imports when globalization began, resulting in significant scams.

The Prime Minister highlighted the decline of India's shipbuilding sector as an example of the detrimental effects of past policies, noting its global market share plummeted from 40% to a mere 5% in 50 years. He emphasized that India, with its large population, must become self-reliant to ensure peace, stability, and prosperity, adding that dependence on other countries compromises national self-respect and the future of its 140 crore citizens.

Modi stated that India is moving forward with the spirit of global brotherhood, but its dependence on other nations is its biggest enemy. He stressed that greater foreign dependence leads to greater national failure and that to become a developed nation by 2047, India must become self-reliant. He urged all 140 crore citizens to commit to this resolve, emphasizing that whether it is chips or ships, they must be made in India.

He announced that the maritime sector is moving towards next-generation reforms with the vision of "Atmanirbhar Bharat". He mentioned that India currently accounts for 10% of global maritime trade and aims to triple its participation by 2047.

Modi highlighted recent reforms in the maritime sector, including amendments to outdated colonial-era laws and the introduction of five new maritime laws to bring significant changes in shipping and port governance. He also noted that in the past decade, more than 40 ships and submarines have been inducted into the Navy, most of which were built in India, including the INS Vikrant.

The Prime Minister stated that the government is working on schemes to provide financial support to the shipbuilding sector, help shipyards adopt modern technology, and improve design and quality standards. He also announced the implementation of "One Nation, One Document" and "One Nation, One Port" processes to simplify trade and commerce at major ports. Additionally, he inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for multiple projects of the central and state governments, worth over ₹26,354 crore, across various sectors in Gujarat.