New Delhi: Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani sought greater private initiative in various fields now confined with the government, saying determined efforts were required to maximise the potential of government-private sector cooperation.

Stressing synergisation of efforts by public and private sectors in fields like aviation and tourism, he said, "India had infinite prospects and talent at its disposal and earnest efforts by both public and private sectors were required to bring the country to the forefront of the international community in the 21st Century."

Inaugurating a conference on the aviation and tourism strategy in a changing business environment on December 11, Advani said the global environment had 'considerably changed' in recent times and the private sector was now accepted with a positive frame of mind unlike in the past.

Stating that India had tremendous potential in tourism and aviation sectors, he said effective steps to synergise efforts of the private sector and government would have to be made. Also a sense of optimism and confidence needed to be generated in the public mind to "remove the sense of despair, negativism, diffidence, self- flagellation and that we are inherently weak."

Civil Aviation Minister Shahnawaz Hussain, in his address, announced that restructuring of four metro airports would be completed by October 2003.

PTI