Striving to build innovation-driven India, says Modi

Ahmedabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday his government is making efforts to create systems that are innovation-friendly to build an innovation-driven new India.

Modi was speaking after he and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu dedicated to the nation a centre for entrepreneurship and technology in Deo Dholera village near Ahmedabad.

Called the International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Technology (iCreate), a public-private partnership (PPP) venture set up to nurture entrepreneurs by providing them funds, space, mentors and other facilities.

"When I went to Israel last year, I made up my mind that this foundation should have more strong relations with Israel. Since then, I was waiting for my friend Benjamin Netanyahu to come to India. He is here, and now we are inaugurating this foundation," Modi said.

"We are working towards making the entire system in our country innovation-friendly so that ideas are formed from intent, innovations are formed from ideas, and new India is formed from innovations," the Prime Minister said.

The Israeli prime minister said he was delighted to be there.

"The world knows about iPads and iPods; there is on more i that the world needs to know about, that is iCreate."

Netanyahu ended his speech with "Jai Hind! Jai Bharat! Jai Israel! Thank you, Prime Minister Modi".

Earlier on Wednesday, PM Modi and his Israeli counterpart held a roadshow in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, under a heavy security blanket as thousands of people lined up along the route to greet them.

After arriving in Modi's home state, the two leaders, along with the Israeli prime minister's wife Sara Netanyahu, set out in a car from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport in Ahmedabad.

Around 50 stages were erected on the roadside along the stretch to showcase performances by troupes of different states to welcome the guests.

The roadshow concluded at Mahatma Gandhi's Sabarmati Ashram, after traversing 8 km.

At 'Hriday Kunj', Gandhi's home in the ashram, Modi showed them Gandhi's room and the articles he used.

Netanyahu and his wife tried their hands at Gandhi's cherished spinning wheel.