Hyderabad: Vice President of India M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that companies like NMDC must look beyond the conventional templates, take up skilling programmes for youth in a big way and give a thrust to ‘Make in India’ initiative.
The Vice President was addressing the gathering at the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of NMDC Ltd., in Hyderabad today. Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Dr. Raman Singh, Union Minister for Steel Chaudhary Birender Singh, Deputy Chief Minister of Telangana Mohammad Mahmood Ali, Union Minister of State for Steel Vishnu Deo Sai, Union Minister of State for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Y.S. Chowdary, Telangana’s Minister for Mines & Geology K.T. Rama Rao and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
The Vice President said that the Public Sector Enterprises have contributed immensely to the country’s economic growth. He further said that they have played a pioneering role in building the infrastructure – be it telecom, transportation, power, irrigation or road network.
Coal, oil and natural gas are the other key areas where the public sector companies have made immense contribution to the national economy, he added.
Venkaiah Naidu said that India was the only country with about 65 per cent of the population aged below 35 years. This is a big demographic boon and the energies of the young, educated population have to be fully harnessed to transform India into the one of the leading economic powers in the world in the coming years, he added.
The Vice President said that congratulated NMDC on posting a Profit (before tax) of Rs.4,293 crores in FY’17 and emerging as one of the top profit-making ‘Navratna’ public sector companies in the country.
He expressed his happiness that NMDC has set up a dedicated exploration wing at Raipur, which will facilitate discovery of additional mineral wealth and lead to growth of the mining sector in the country.
Venkaiah Naidu said that NMDC has also spread its footprint globally, with acquisition of leases of gold deposits in Tanzania, a majority stake in an iron ore deposit in Australia and a coking coal deposit in Mozambique in partnership with two other public sector enterprises under the Ministry of Steel.
It is heartening to note that NMDC is geared up to meet the expected increase in demand by enhancing production capabilities of existing mines and opening up new mines, he added. (INN)