PM Modi Pitches Startups and Innovation as SCO’s Future Growth Engine

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, positioned startups, innovation, and youth entrepreneurship as the cornerstone of regional cooperation, making a strong case for deeper collaboration among the eight-member bloc beyond traditional security issues.

Speaking before leaders of SCO nations, Modi underscored that India’s vision for the grouping rests on three interconnected pillars—Security, Connectivity, and Opportunity—but stressed that the real potential for the future lies in building stronger ecosystems for startups, digital innovation, and youth-led growth.

Startups Take Center Stage at SCO Summit

Calling startups “the new growth engines of the global economy,” Modi urged SCO members to institutionalize cooperation in this sector. He reminded leaders that under India’s chairmanship in 2023, new areas of collaboration were introduced—startups and innovation, youth empowerment, digital inclusion, traditional medicine, and shared Buddhist heritage.

“Our effort has been to take SCO beyond governments and bring together young scientists, scholars, and entrepreneurs,” Modi said. “Deeper collaboration among startups and innovators across member states can unlock opportunities for shared growth and global competitiveness.”

He went further, proposing the creation of a Civilizational Dialogue Forum to enable cultural and knowledge exchanges that can complement entrepreneurship and innovation-led growth across the region.

India’s Reform Story as a Case Study

To emphasize the role of innovation in nation-building, Modi cited India’s own journey, built on the mantra of Reform, Perform, and Transform. He pointed out how India has converted challenges such as COVID-19 and global economic instability into opportunities through technology adoption, policy reforms, and startup-led innovation.

“Wide-ranging reforms are opening new avenues for international cooperation, and I invite all partners to join India’s growth journey,” he said, positioning India as both a model and a partner for SCO economies seeking inclusive growth.

Connectivity as an Enabler for Startups

While startups formed the centerpiece of his speech, Modi also linked them with larger connectivity goals. Flagging projects such as the Chabahar Port and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), he said improved trade links could help integrate markets for entrepreneurs and open access to new consumer bases across Central Asia, Russia, and beyond. Importantly, he reiterated that such connectivity must respect sovereignty and territorial integrity—an indirect message aimed at selective regional projects.

Security as the Foundation, Not the Focus

Although the startup and innovation agenda dominated, Modi did not shy away from addressing terrorism—what he called the “gravest challenge” to peace and prosperity. He underlined India’s active role in the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) and recent efforts to lead joint information operations against terror outfits like Al-Qaeda.

He cautioned that terrorism, separatism, and extremism continue to threaten the very foundations of growth, asking SCO members to adopt a policy of zero tolerance and reject any “double standards.” By securing peace, he argued, SCO nations can create the environment necessary for startups and innovators to thrive.

A Blueprint for the SCO’s Future

Modi’s address in Tianjin sketched a blueprint where entrepreneurship and innovation drive SCO’s future relevance. He emphasized that the organization must evolve to address not just hard security issues but also the aspirations of the Global South, where young entrepreneurs, digital inclusion, and knowledge-sharing are emerging as the true levers of growth.

As Kyrgyzstan takes over the chairmanship, Modi left the grouping with a clear message: SCO’s strength will not only lie in its ability to combat terrorism but also in its capacity to nurture a new generation of startups and innovators who can reshape the region’s economic destiny.