Priya Ranjan Dash

New Delhi: It was a demonstration of assertiveness by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday at the Fortune Global Forum, a meeting of CEOs of the world’s top corporations, being held for the first time in India.

Attempting to claw back any loss of international credibility that India might have suffered in the wake of the stalled Indo-US nuclear deal, Singh said India would keep all its international commitments.

It will continue opening up and integrating more with the world. He even claimed that the mood in India today is for taking advantage of the global opportunities.

The Prime Minister chose the high-profile meeting to try and bolster India’s international credibility while not making a direct reference to the nuclear deal. Singh sought to impress upon his globally influential audience that India’s self-reforming democratic process is quite capable of ultimately delivering the goods, though it may be slow at times.

Urging global investors to keep faith in India, Singh said: “The beauty of Indian democracy is its vitality; its ability to periodically rejuvenate itself; its ability to reform itself.

“We will continue to do so. Our systems may be slow, but they are steady,” he added. Singh reminded global CEOs of India’s enviable record in keeping its international commitments.

“Whether it is on trade policy or on climate change, or indeed on any international obligation, India has always worked with the global community. Moreover, India has never reneged on its international commitments. India has been a reliable partner, a responsible global citizen. India respects the rule of law. India is, therefore, a predictable partner.”

The Prime Minister said: “As India grows, it seeks a wider engagement with the outside world, as an open market and an open society. As a nation of young people, we view the world as a planet of opportunities. We are aware of the risks associated with globalisation. However, we have the confidence to utilise the opportunities being created. I believe that is the mood in India today.”

Pointing out that India had benefited from its global linkages, Singh said: “We want to be more integrated with the global economy. This is the best way to expand our development possibilities.”

Singh seemed to suggest that he is confident of India surmounting its internal political differences to forge greater global linkages and openness. “I must draw your attention to the fact that the road to such reform over the past two decades has been a one-way street.

Different political parties of different ideological hues have been in office over the past two decades. Yet, no policy reform has ever been reversed.

The Indian economy, and its globalisation, has moved only in one direction - towards greater and greater freedom for individual creativity, initiative and enterprise. And towards increased integration with the world economy”, Singh said.

Source : DNA