Samarkand: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that food security can be ensured by encouraging the use of small grains in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and other countries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 22nd Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Its description: “I extend my heartiest congratulations to President (Uzbekistan) Mirceoyev for his excellent leadership of SCO amid challenging global and regional environment this year.
The world is currently facing the challenges of post-pandemic economic recovery. In this context, the role of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has become more important. SCO member countries account for about 30 percent of global GDP. 40 percent of the world’s population lives in SEO countries. India supports cooperation and mutual trust among SCO member countries.
The burgeoning Ukraine crisis has also caused numerous disruptions in global supply chains. Due to this the world is facing unprecedented energy and food crisis. In our region, SEO efforts must be made to build reliable, robust diverse supply chains. This requires provision of comprehensive transport rights with excellent connectivity.
We have made progress in making India a manufacturing hub. India’s young and talented workforce has naturally created competition. Indian economy is expected to grow by 7.5 percent this year. This is the highest among the world’s largest economies. A people-centred development model focuses heavily on the systematic use of technology.
We support innovation in every field. There are over 70,000 start-ups in India today. Over 100 of these are unicorn companies. Our experience can be useful for many other SEO countries. To this end, we are ready to share our experience with the SEO Member States in creating a new Special Task Force on Startup Innovation.
Today the world is facing another great challenge. It is to ensure food security of our people. Our solution to this problem is to promote the cultivation of small grains and their consumption. Small grains are a staple food that has been cultivated for thousands of years. In SCO countries as well as in other parts of the world, this traditionally nutritious low-cost food type can be used as an alternative food in food-stressed environments. The year 2023 will be celebrated as the UN International Year of Small Grains. We should consider organizing small grain food festival under SEO.
India is the world’s cheapest medical and wellness tourism destination. The World Health Organization’s Global Center for Traditional Medicine was launched in Gujarat last April. It is the first and only traditional medical center of the World Health Organization. We need to increase traditional medicine cooperation between SCO countries. For this, India will take the initiative to set up a new SCO task force on traditional medicine,” said Prime Minister Modi.
