The Hindu : National : Manmohan announces Knowledge Commission

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 13, 2005

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National

Manmohan announces Knowledge Commission

By Our Special Correspondent

KOLKATA, JAN. 12. The Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, today announced the setting up of a National Knowledge Commission so that India becomes not only a knowledge-producing society but also a knowledge-sharing and knowledge-consuming society.

Delivering his inaugural address at the CII Partnership Summit here, Dr. Singh said this was the only way to meet the challenges of globalisation. The Commission's agenda would be shaped by a "knowledge pentagon with five action areas." These included increasing access to knowledge for public benefit, developing higher education concepts, rejuvenating science and technology institutions, enabling application of knowledge by industry to enhance manufacturing competitiveness and encouraging intensive use of knowledge-based services by government for citizens' empowerment.

The Prime Minister also told the over 1,200 delegates from within the country and abroad that the Government had the full support of the Left allies in providing an investment-friendly environment.

`Look at China'

"We have committed in the NCMP (National Common Minimum Programme) to boost private investment and encourage FDI particularly in infrastructure, high technology and exports. If communist China can be the top investment destination in the world and if a Left Government in West Bengal woos FDI aggressively, I see no reason why the UPA Government cannot make India an important FDI destination," he said amid applause.

Admitting that at times some of the views expressed by the alliance partners on the Left might have raised doubts in the minds of prospective investors, Dr. Singh said that he was sure the delegates would leave the summit re-assured and convinced "that there is today a wide-ranging consensus on the necessity for India to be actively engaged with the world economy."

Links with Asia

Noting that India was moving quickly to rediscover its historic and organic links with Asia, Dr. Singh said the recent tsunami tragedy "showed us and the whole world that the destinies of India and Asia are increasingly bound together in good times and bad times, in prosperity and pain.

In this context, he said that India's response to offers of assistance was not shaped by false pride or chauvinism. "We are happy to be part of a global community and will seek international assistance for our reconstruction effort." The do-it-yourself mood of the nation was not an index of its isolationism. Rather, it reflected the country's resolve to turn an adversity into an opportunity.

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