- Joined
- Sep 22, 2012
- Messages
- 3,326
- Likes
- 5,408
NEW DELHI: For long, India has been projected as an elephant compared to the Chinese dragon and Asian tigers. But that could change, if the government's ambitious branding campaign to make India a manufacturing hub works. Launched on Thursday, the 'Make in India' campaign seeks to replace the stately and steady elephant with a lion exuding power and vitality.
The campaign seeks investments in 25 sectors, ranging from aviation and defence to automobiles, tourism and hospitality and wellness. The focus is not just on attracting foreign investment but also getting homegrown business houses, many of whom have invested overseas due to policy uncertainty during UPA-II, to return to Indian shores and create jobs. As PM Narendra Modi exhorted Indian businessmen at the launch function, "FDI should mean First Develop India".
Many factors went into choosing the lion symbol. Wieden+Kennedy, the agency that also worked on 'Incredible India', initially thought of the elephant. But some in the government pointed out that it was BSP's election symbol and may create a controversy. The tiger, India's national animal, came up next. But it was feared that the dwindling population of tigers in the country could send out the wrong signals.
Around this time, the PMO also stepped in as Modi announced the theme in his Independence Day speech. With the Mauryan period seen as a glorious period for India, the Ashoka Chakra made an entry and with it came the lion. Besides, there is a Gujarat connection as lions are thriving in Gir.
During the election campaign, Modi was often called the lion of Gujarat. In his address before a gathering of the country's top businessmen on Thursday, he seemed to point to it. "This is a step by a lion," he said, referring to the manufacturing campaign, which will be a key theme over the next three-four years with a multi-stage campaign planned across the globe.
FDI means First Develop India, PM tells businessmen - The Times of India
The campaign seeks investments in 25 sectors, ranging from aviation and defence to automobiles, tourism and hospitality and wellness. The focus is not just on attracting foreign investment but also getting homegrown business houses, many of whom have invested overseas due to policy uncertainty during UPA-II, to return to Indian shores and create jobs. As PM Narendra Modi exhorted Indian businessmen at the launch function, "FDI should mean First Develop India".
Many factors went into choosing the lion symbol. Wieden+Kennedy, the agency that also worked on 'Incredible India', initially thought of the elephant. But some in the government pointed out that it was BSP's election symbol and may create a controversy. The tiger, India's national animal, came up next. But it was feared that the dwindling population of tigers in the country could send out the wrong signals.
Around this time, the PMO also stepped in as Modi announced the theme in his Independence Day speech. With the Mauryan period seen as a glorious period for India, the Ashoka Chakra made an entry and with it came the lion. Besides, there is a Gujarat connection as lions are thriving in Gir.
During the election campaign, Modi was often called the lion of Gujarat. In his address before a gathering of the country's top businessmen on Thursday, he seemed to point to it. "This is a step by a lion," he said, referring to the manufacturing campaign, which will be a key theme over the next three-four years with a multi-stage campaign planned across the globe.
FDI means First Develop India, PM tells businessmen - The Times of India
