Geneva: Observing that he has "new challenges and new promises," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (Sep 27, 2004) said his "key priority" would be to impart a new momentum of dynamism to the management of infrastructure and take practical steps to cut bureaucratic delays in the clearance of projects in the pipeline.

"I have new challenges and new promises. My only wish and prayer is that I should be worthy of the trust and confidence that our people have placed on me," Singh told reporters accompanying him from New York to Geneva.

Singh, who was greeted on his 72nd birthday on board Air India's special aircraft 'Tanjore' said, "I have a lot of things to do. If I can impart a new momentum of dynamism to the management of India's infrastructure, that will be my key priority."

India is already the world's fourth largest economy, "but that is not good enough," Singh said adding, "India is a country of tremendous creativity. There is vast untapped potential."

Contending that the world respects strength, he said it was the inherent strength that determined the place India enjoyed in the comity of nations.