Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 15 August 2025 declared that India has cemented Free Trade Agreements and trade partnerships with nearly 40 nations since 2014, calling the deals a 'monumental opportunity' for the country's businesses and coastal communities. Speaking from the ramparts of the Red Fort on India's 80th Independence Day, Modi said the country is now widely recognised as a stable, respected force in global affairs.

India's Rising Global Standing

Modi attributed India's growing international stature to a combination of institutional strengths. 'Today, India is emerging in the eyes of the world as a widely accepted and respected nation. India possesses a stable political mandate, a stable government, a vibrant democracy, a robust judiciary, and guiding all of us is the Constitution of India. The world has now truly begun to recognise these intrinsic strengths of ours,' he said in his address.

The Prime Minister argued that political continuity and constitutional governance have been the bedrock of India's credibility abroad — a framing that positions domestic stability as a foreign-policy asset.

40 Trade Deals and What They Mean for MSMEs

Modi spotlighted the scale of India's trade diplomacy since 2014, noting that FTAs and trade partnerships with nearly 40 countries have unlocked significant market access. He specifically urged India's Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to capitalise on these agreements. 'These trade agreements present a monumental opportunity. Therefore, I would especially urge our MSMEs: We must not let this golden opportunity slip away,' he said.

Notably, this push comes as global supply chains are being restructured amid geopolitical shifts, offering India a window to deepen export penetration in markets previously dominated by China and other manufacturing hubs.

Coastal Communities and the Seafood Export Opportunity

The Prime Minister drew particular attention to the gains available for India's fishing communities, spanning the country's entire coastal belt. 'From Keralam to Gujarat, and from Tamil Nadu to Bengal — our entire coastal belt and our fisher brothers and sisters — immense opportunities have been unlocked through these FTAs for the export of our shrimp, expanding the global footprint of our seafood sector manifold,' Modi said.

The shrimp and seafood sector has historically been among India's top agricultural exports, and the new trade access could significantly expand volumes if logistics and quality infrastructure keep pace.

Viksit Bharat 2047: The Road Ahead

Modi reiterated his government's overarching goal of transforming India into a developed nation — Viksit Bharat — by 2047, the centenary of Independence. He said the vision is rooted in the capabilities citizens have demonstrated over the past decade, but cautioned that realising it would require a transformation in work culture, a higher collective mindset, and a sharply faster pace of decision-making and project implementation.

With the 80th Independence Day serving as a symbolic milestone, Modi framed the next two decades as a decisive window — one that will either cement or squander the momentum built since 2014. Industry bodies and trade associations are expected to follow up with the government on implementation timelines for the FTA provisions in the coming weeks.