<p>Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Sunday made a pitch for '<em>swadeshi</em>' (indigenous) production and said imports need to end, while exports should increase.</p>.<p>He also suggested setting up of an "import substitute and export-oriented department" with separate funds earmarked for it.</p>.<p>The senior BJP leader said the department should work on the principles of 'swadeshi' and '<em>swavalamban</em>' (self- reliance) and guide the economy.</p>.<p>He was speaking at a virtual programme organised by the Swadeshi Jagran Manch, in which firms that did not retrench workers during the coronavirus-induced lockdown were felicitated.</p>.<p>"I feel imports need to end and exports should be increased through the promotion of import-substitute goods," he said.</p>.<p>Gadkari said an alternative fuel economy worth Rs 5 lakh crore could be created through rural participation.</p>.<p>He went on to inform the gathering that turnover of village industries had increased from Rs 80,000 crore last year to Rs 1 lakh crore and the target was to take it further to Rs 5 lakh crore soon.</p>.<p>The country was getting self-reliant in defence, automobiles and several other sectors and would become the world's largest e-vehicle manufacturing hub in the next five years with products ranging from two-wheelers, three-wheelers and cars to construction equipment.</p>.<p>RSS functionary Manmohan Vaidya also spoke at the event and laid stress on "<em>aatmanirbharta</em>" (self-reliance) and swadeshi.</p>
<p>Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Sunday made a pitch for '<em>swadeshi</em>' (indigenous) production and said imports need to end, while exports should increase.</p>.<p>He also suggested setting up of an "import substitute and export-oriented department" with separate funds earmarked for it.</p>.<p>The senior BJP leader said the department should work on the principles of 'swadeshi' and '<em>swavalamban</em>' (self- reliance) and guide the economy.</p>.<p>He was speaking at a virtual programme organised by the Swadeshi Jagran Manch, in which firms that did not retrench workers during the coronavirus-induced lockdown were felicitated.</p>.<p>"I feel imports need to end and exports should be increased through the promotion of import-substitute goods," he said.</p>.<p>Gadkari said an alternative fuel economy worth Rs 5 lakh crore could be created through rural participation.</p>.<p>He went on to inform the gathering that turnover of village industries had increased from Rs 80,000 crore last year to Rs 1 lakh crore and the target was to take it further to Rs 5 lakh crore soon.</p>.<p>The country was getting self-reliant in defence, automobiles and several other sectors and would become the world's largest e-vehicle manufacturing hub in the next five years with products ranging from two-wheelers, three-wheelers and cars to construction equipment.</p>.<p>RSS functionary Manmohan Vaidya also spoke at the event and laid stress on "<em>aatmanirbharta</em>" (self-reliance) and swadeshi.</p>