NAGPUR, Aug 30: Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has urged entrepreneurs to uphold strong ethical and moral values, saying integrity plays a crucial role in building credibility and effective leadership.
Addressing the ‘Economic Times Changemakers of Nagpur 2026’ event in Nagpur on Sunday, Gadkari said values should remain central to personal, social and public life.
He said maintaining ethical standards enhances an individual’s credibility and strengthens leadership capabilities.
“Values are very important, be it social life, personal life or political life,” Gadkari said, stressing that people should remain committed to their principles across different aspects of life.
The minister also underlined the need for greater focus on research and development, innovation and learning from successful practices adopted in other parts of the world.
According to Gadkari, entrepreneurs can tackle difficult situations by maintaining a positive outlook and adopting sound business practices. He encouraged the business community to view setbacks as challenges that can eventually be overcome through determination and perseverance.
Highlighting the importance of resilience, the minister cited the example of an entrepreneur whose factory was completely destroyed in a fire. Despite the setback, the businessman rebuilt his enterprise and eventually began exporting products to more than 90 countries.
Gadkari said such examples demonstrate the importance of refusing to give up in the face of adversity.
“The man is not finished when he is defeated. He is finished when he quits,” he said.
His remarks highlighted the importance of combining ethical conduct, innovation, positive thinking and perseverance for long-term success in entrepreneurship.