Prime Minister Narendra Modi in November sought greater engagement of the diaspora in making the country strong, pointing to the large requirement of foreign direct investment and stating that his only task was development that wipes tears from the eyes of the poor. Addressing a gathering of the Indian diaspora at the Singapore Expo, Mr Modi spoke of his Government's goals of providing round-the-clock power by 2022, generating 40 percent energy from non-fossil sources by 2030 and generating 175 GW of renewable energy.

"India is a great country but it has a lot to learn from Singapore. The diversity that is in India, it is in Singapore but everyone is a Singaporean and is working shoulder to shoulder to build the country. We have to learn a lot from Singapore," he said. Mr Modi said that he had started his journey with one task before him and needed the blessings of Indians in the country and outside. "I have to accomplish one task and that is development, development, development which wipes the tears of the poor, provides employment to youth, prosperity to farmers and empowerment to women." Referring to the positive image of the country in the world, Mr Modi said the reason for it was "not Modi but you, my brothers and sisters living in foreign countries".

He said Indians assimilated well with the country they went to. "They live by Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—the whole world is one family," Mr Modi said. Indians number about 350,000 in Singapore's population of about 5.5 million. The Prime Minister said FDI has two meanings for him—foreign direct investment and first develop India. "Today, India needs a large amount of FDI, he said, noting that FDI flows had gone up by 40 percent over the past 18 months. Mr Modi said his government had allowed upto 100 percent FDI in railways and the same would apply in approved high technology areas in defence. "For me railway is not transport only. It is engine for India's transformation," he said. Referring to Swami Vivekananda, Mr Modi said he sees the country reaching its old glory of being "Vishwa Guru" (world guru).