The Prime Minister flew to Switzerland after attending a community reception in Doha.
Highlights
- Quarterly figures reflect praiseworthy 7.9% growth rate, PM said in Doha
- Growth despite global slowdown and two consecutive droughts, he said
- PM also spoke to business leaders, calling India a 'land of opportunity'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke at length on India's growth rate, saying the economy was thriving despite the global slowdown and bad monsoons.
"Global agencies agree that if there's a fastest growing economy, it is India," he said while addressing a huge audience gathering of expat Indians in Doha.
India, he said, has clocked a high growth rate "even though the monsoon hasn't been good for the last two years," and even when purchasing power abroad has slid, affecting exports.
"The quarterly figures, even as India has faced two consecutive droughts, reflect a praiseworthy 7.9% growth rate," he said.
The Prime Minister was in Doha on the second leg of his five-nation tour. Earlier today, India had inked 7 agreements with Qatar that includes key areas of growth -- including investment, skill development and tourism.
He also addressed the business leaders of Doha, to whom he held up India as a "land of opportunity".
"Today the whole world is attracted to India, is curious about India. Even you must have felt the change underway in India," he later told the India community.
To the deafening cheers and cries of "Modi, Modi," he said, "The change in India has not happened due to Narendra Modi. It is due to the 125 crore people of India.... I get the strength to fight corruption from you. I derive strength from the love you have for me."