New Delhi: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on April 17 assured the industry and farm sector of protection against any "unfair measures in global markets", saying the government has been intervening for steel industry when it faced difficulty in the name of anti-dumping.

"I would like to assure one and all that protection and promotion of the interests of the Indian agriculture, Indian industry, and Indian service enterprises, and creation of employment by them is the primary aim of economic reforms," Vajpayee said while presenting Prime Minister's trophy for best steel plant to Tata Steel for the year 2000-01.

Commending the steel industry for standing up to global competition, Vajpayee sought to allay its fears, saying, "We are alert and active whenever our industry is subjected to unfair measures in global markets.

"Which is why government has been intervening strongly in support of the Indian steel industry in the case of difficulties that it has been facing in some markets in the name of anti-dumping," he added.

Vajpayee urged the industry to supplement research and development (R&D) activities saying this was crucial for sustaining the industry's growth momentum.

He, however pointed out that Indian steel industry has been a major beneficiary of global markets. Last year was a bumper year for Indian steel exports, which helped greatly in removing the recession in steel industry.

PTI