Women Empowerment Vital To Development, Says PM Modi 

India and U.S. relations will scale to new heights under the leadership of PM Modi and President Donald Trump, said Sushma Swaraj, India's minister of external affairs.

She said that India shares Donald Trump's deep desire to strengthen the partnership, adding that the country appreciates U.S. for promoting entrepreneurship globally.

Swaraj said that India is a “land of entrepreneurs” and U.S. is a “land of enterprises” so it is appropriate that both countries come together to co-host the Global Entrepreneurship Summit.

She added that Ivanka Trump's keen interest has helped shaped the agenda of the event.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he believes women empowerment is vital to the development of an economy.

He said that history has references of remarkably talented Indian women. He said that in Indian mythology, women are seen as an incarnation of Shakti, the goddess of power.

Even now Indian women continue to lead in various walks of life, Modi added.

He said that the female participation in the milk industry of India is a global example of how women can lead co-operative movements.

Modi added that the government has tried to ensure female participation in grassroots decision making by reserving one-third representation.

Invoking the theme of the summit ‘Women First, Prosperity for All’, Ivanka Trump congratulated all the women entrepreneurs at the summit for their contribution to the economy.

Women entrepreneurs can usher in a new era of prosperity, she said.

Trump mentioned the U.S. budget’s inclusion of a proposal to establish a nationwide programme for paid family leave, adding, “We are committed to supporting women, and men, who work, inside and outside of the home.”

She added that she is impressed by Modi’s vision that progress is not complete without empowering women.