PM 3LST

Emphasising the country's "strategic autonomy", Singh
said it was "an article of faith" and India was "too large a
country to be boxed into any alliance or regional or
sub-regional arrangements, whether trade, economic or
political."
He said if India had to sustain its nine to 10 per cent
growth, it needed foreign capital inflow, both portfolio and
direct investment, the best of modern technology and access to
markets of the advanced economies and the country had to
modernise its infrastructure.
For all this, India needed to maintain a healthy
relations with all major powers, he added.
On the global terms, the Prime Minister said, there was a
shift of economic and political power to Asia, with the
Asia-Pacific region, including the South East Asia needing
more attention from India.
"This must seep into our defence and foreign policy
planning as never before. This is a palpable desire on the
part of the countries of this region to enhance cooperation
with us which we must reciprocate," he added.
Noting that some of the "toughest challenges" lay in
India's neighbourhood, Singh said the country would not
realise its growth ambitions unless peace and stability was
ensured in South Asia.
Describing the nations of the Gulf region, West and
Central Asia as "natural partners", he said India had tangible
interests in these regions, among which energy security was
most important.
"We have to ensure adequate availability of commercial
energy to support our growth targets. This requires not only
diversification of the sources of our energy imports but also
widening of our overall energy mix. It is in this context that
we need to operationalise our nuclear energy option, which
holds great promise and is a necessity," he added.
Referring to the global economic crisis of 2008, Singh
said India had weathered it better than most large economies,
as there was a continental sized economy and large internal
market. But the challenge, he said, would be to ensure that
growth was balanced across all regions and reached all
sections of society.
"Given our youth demographic profile, we will also have
to ensure access to good quality education and health services
to all. We have to put in place a National Skill Development
Mission to empower our youth which will yield positive
results," he added.
Singh also assured the armed forces that the country
would accord priority to equipment, training and welfare of
soldiers and retired defence personnel.
"We will do all that is necessary to ensure the armed
forces attract the best talent in the country," he added. PTI
NCB RET
MRD


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