SINGAPORE BUSINESS DELEGATION CALLS
ON SHRI ARUN SHOURIE
The Singapore Business
delegation today called on the Communications, IT and Disinvestment
Minister, Shri Arun Shourie. The 26 Member visting delegation
led by Mr. Stephen Lee showed keen interest in the ongoing disinvestment
programme in India and information and technology sector. The
members of the delegation wanted to know the progress in disinvestment
process of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and the likelihood
of it gaining momentum. Mr. Lee also wanted that the negotiation
between the two countries on commercial cooperation and economic
agreement should be completed in the next 18 months. It will boost
bilateral trade. The agreement had come for discussion when the
Indian Prime Minister had visited Singapore recently. The delegation
also wanted to know what steps India is taking to increase the
domestic demand for the software products. The Minister allayed
their apprehension of slowing down of reforms process in view
of the forthcoming Assembly Elections. He said that the Ministry
of Finance and other departments are showing keen interest in
disinvestment process. He specially mentioned the impending disinvestment
of Maruti, HPCL and BPCL. Shri Shourie said that all the legal
hurdles have been set aside and the process is likely to gain
momentum in the coming two three months.
On increasing
the domestic use of software products, Shri Shourie said that
the Government has taken several steps to boost the demand of
these items including promoting e-governance, e-commerce and bridging
the digital divide by introducing computers in a big way in selected
60,000 schools in the country. He also mentioned about the programme
‘Bits for All’. The Indian delegation also told that the fibre
optics backbone has been laid which will increase the demand for
IT products. The Indian side also wanted to know the impact of
‘SARS’ on trade and the regional economic prospects under the
ASEAN. The Singapore business delegation also mentioned their
talks with CII representatives in the Capital today and said that
they have identified areas where there is good scope of mutual
cooperation.
