'You Will Feel The Difference in India': PM Narendra Modi Writes in Wall Street Journal

New York: As he began an action-packed and widely-anticipated US visit on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written in the Wall Street Journal about "eliminating unnecessary laws" and doing whatever it takes to make his "Make-in-India" campaign a reality.

"In the coming months, you will feel the difference even before you begin your travel to India," PM Modi wrote in an op-ed piece, promising to make India "open and friendly" for business, ideas, research, innovations and travel.

Describing the US as a natural global partner, PM Modi has also written that India and the US have a fundamental stake in each other's success.

"It will be of great value in advancing peace, security and stability in the Asia and Pacific regions; in the unfinished and urgent task of combating terrorism and extremism; and in securing our seas, cyber space and outer space, all of which now have a profound influence on our daily lives," the PM wrote.

A day after launching his Make-in-India campaign pitching India as a manufacturing hub, Mr Modi has written about making bureaucratic processes in India easier and shorter, and ensuring that his government is more transparent, responsive and accountable.

"We will create world-class infrastructure that India badly needs to accelerate growth and meet people's basic needs. We will make our cities and towns habitable, sustainable and smart; and we will make our villages the new engines of economic transformation. Make in India is our commitment - and an invitation to all - to turn India into a new global manufacturing hub. We will do what it takes to make it a reality," he said.

Mr Modi arrived in New York on Friday for a five-day visit, his first since becoming Prime Minister in May. After he took power at the Centre, the US ended a ban on his visa over the 2002 riots in Gujarat, the state he ruled for 14 years. He will address the UN General Assembly this weekend before heading to Washington for talks with President Barack Obama.

In his article, Mr Modi wrote that there is "a high tide of hope for change in India". 1.25 billion people spoke unequivocally for political stability, good governance and rapid development, he said.