VICE-PRESIDENT LAID THE FOUNDATION
STONE OF THE KERALA
TRADE CENTRE
Vice-President Shri
Bhairon Singh Shekhawat has said that trade is meant to promote
development. But development will be bereft of its true meaning
if it does not enable the poor and the deprived to enhance their
quality of life, their level of well-being and access to basic
social services. In my view, therefore, the success of WTO regime
would be judged by the developing countries if it helps establishing
a framework of international trade which promotes the type of
growth that the developing countries are looking forward with
great expectations. Vice-President was addressing the Foundation
Stone Laying Ceremony of the Kerala Trade Centre at Cochin today.
He further said that we perceive WTO as an enabling medium for
growth of our trade and development. We are for safeguarding the
food and livelihood security of our farmers and maximizing export
opportunities for agricultural products. We have also emphasized
the need to expand trade in services and also laid focus on issues
such as improving market access for developing countries.
Shri Shekhawat
said that in the era of globalisation, our farmers, villagers
and artisans have been alarmed by the apprehended adverse impact
on their interests. It is, therefore, imperative that such misgivings
are put to rest by positive campaigns to prepare our agriculture,
industry and another sectors of the economy to face the challenges
of competition in the new world trade order. Citing example of
successes of China in economic front, he said, we need to be concerned
how to improve the competitive strength of our industry. Quest
for efficiency and productivity must now guide our industry. Our
industries ought to have an agenda to compete in the new global
economic environment, for bringing about radical changes in the
quality profile which is a hallmark of the present day global
economy. Simultaneously, the principles of fairness, transparency,
accountability and social responsibility ought to be followed
by our corporates in building constructive relationships among
all constituents.
Assessing the
Indian economic strength, he said India's economy is strong and
resilient; it ranks as one of the six fastest growing economies
in the world. Inflation is low, foreign exchange reserves are
more than 85 billion dollars. We have food stocks of more than
30 million tonnes. Growth of industry has picked up. Our achievements
in defence, space, atomic energy and IT have been spectacular.
On this solid foundation, we now are certainly in a position to
put our economy on high growth trajectory. World Bank in its 2004
report praised Kerala on various counts. Vice-President complimented
the Chief Minister for the same.
