Modi urges citizens to shun foreign products and embrace domestic goods

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (September 21) called upon citizens to stop using foreign products and instead embrace domestic goods in his address to the nation.

The appeal comes at a time when trade relations between India and the United States are strained. US President Donald Trump recently imposed a 50 per cent tariff on Indian products. Since then, Modi has placed renewed emphasis on “Swadeshi” – the use of locally made products.

Supporters of Modi have already launched a “boycott American brands” campaign, targeting popular names such as McDonald’s, Pepsi, and Apple – all widely consumed among India’s younger generation.

In his address, Modi said: “We use many foreign products daily without even realising they are not ours. These must be discarded. We must make it a priority to purchase products made in India.”

Although he refrained from naming any particular country, Modi stressed that prioritising domestic products would boost economic growth. He also urged shopkeepers to focus on selling Indian goods.

With a population of 1.4 billion, India has long been a crucial market for US consumer goods. Their presence has expanded beyond major cities into smaller towns and districts, especially through e-commerce giant Amazon.

In recent months, several Indian companies have intensified efforts to promote their local products.

Meanwhile, in the midst of these tensions, India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is expected to visit Washington soon. Indian diplomats are hopeful the trip will help ease trade frictions between the two countries.