PM assures support to industry, better governance

The government will push ahead with reforms in key areas, especially those aimed at fiscal consolidation, while ensuring a strong expansion in investment in infrastructure, taxation, especially the introduction of a Goods and Services Tax and the financial sector, prime minister Manmohan Singh told a meeting of the Council of Trade.

He said the reforms in education and skill development sectors were already underway.

While emphasising the need for a broad agenda for reforms for financing infrastructure development, he also outlined the challenges of rising crude, food and commodity prices, international political uncertainties and the impact of natural disasters that the economy faces today. 

The prime minister also spoke of the need for aggressive acquisition of assets abroad, stronger research and development, strengthening international diplomacy, protecting the interests of the country at the WTO and making available good quality infrastructure in the country.

He said the government is committed to providing an environment conducive to the growth of the corporate sector.

He also said there is a need to consolidate the linkages between rural and urban sectors, agriculture and manufacturing sectors and regions for long term gains.