Referring to the positive image of the country in the world, PM Modi said the reason for it was "not Modi but you, my brothers and sisters living in foreign countries".
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday 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 here, PM Modi spoke of his government's goals of providing round-the-clock power by 2022, generating 40 per cent energy from non-fossil sources by 2030 and generating 175 GW of renewable energy.
The prime minister was greeted by slogans of "Modi, Modi" many times during his speech.
PM Modi spoke for over one hour in Hindi, drawing on the country's culture but also emphasising that it was important to script history and not rest on the laurels of the past.
PM Modi evoked smiles with some of his remarks.
"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.
PM Modi said 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, PM 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," PM Modi said.
Indians number about 350,000 in Singapore's population of about 5.5 million.