Realise economic potential, Singapore tells India

By V. Jayanth

ON BOARD PRESIDENTIAL AIRCRAFT, NOV. 13. Singapore wants India to realise its ``full economic potential'' and play a bigger role in the region as a whole, the President, Mr. K. R. Narayanan, said today.

Speaking to journalists on board the Air India aircraft while returning after a four-day visit to the city- state, the President said leaders there told him they would like to see India play a major economic, commercial and political role to act as a ``balancing factor in the region''.

It was in this context that Singapore wanted India to speed up economic reforms, so that it could achieve its potential.

``The Senior Minister, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, was frank about it. He was concerned about the slow pace of the liberalisation process, urging us to go ahead faster. This is his well known view. I told him that we are working on the basis of a consensus and there is a stable Government in the country today. We can hasten reforms in some sectors, but we have to be careful and cautious in others. I explained the whole position to him. They fully understand the problems and the situation here,'' he noted.

Mr. Lee advocated a ``change in the mindset'' to make the reforms work. Foreign investors wanted to cut corners, avoid delays and get started without delays. The liberalisation process should sink into the general psyche. ``It is a factual statement I thought. But I also told him that stability and forward movement (on reforms) are a difficult balance to establish in India.''

On the concept of a Free Trade Area with Singapore, the President said, ``we are not hostile to the idea. They are keen. It has to be examined by the Government of India in all its implications. We can certainly consider its feasibility. All other factors have to be considered in totality and not suddenly, or in isolation.''

He said Singapore's leaders conveyed their disappointment on the liberalisation in the civil aviation sector. But now that they were bidding for a stake in Air India, there was still hope.

Asked if they had spoken of any problems in ties with China, Mr. Narayanan said, ``I am not aware of any such problems. There is no scaling down (of economic ties). There may be some problems in specific projects. But they are equally keen and interested in investing in India and we are also keen in getting them here.''

Answering questions on regional issues, the President said Singapore was keen on getting India to participate in the ASEAN summit of leaders. This was something that they must decide by consensus, but India was equally keen to enhance its relations with Southeast Asia.

The Singapore leaders spoke of the security concerns of the region and Mr. Narayanan said India had always been supportive of those concerns. They would like to see India maintain its interest in the region.

He saw no immediate prospect of India's entry into the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC), as the membership had been frozen. However, India had conveyed its continued interest to enlarge and enhance its interaction with that region.

Discussion on Kashmir

Asked whether Kashmir was discussed, Mr. Narayanan said, ``it figured peripherally. They did not raise it and I think that is good in itself. They are not unduly concerned.''

At a brief function in the Asian Civilisation Museum in Singapore this morning, the President handed over three ancient artefacts under the bilateral ``loaning'' agreement. They would be part of the museum's South Asian section.

The three sculptures were: (1) an armed Ganesha seated on a lotus throne, holding a tooth, axe, tender plant and a pot of sweets. It is a 12th Century piece from the Hayasala School of Art in Halebid, Karnataka; (2) a dancing Shiva in all his glory, also of the 12th century and from Halebid; (3) a partially mutilated goddess belonging to the 11th century stylistically from the Paramara school of art in Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh. The artefacts belong to the Archeological Survey of India.

The President and his wife, Mrs. Usha Narayanan, were given a warm farewell by the authorities at the VIP terminal of Changi airport this afternoon. Air India's `Harsha Vardhana', Boeing 747, landed in Delhi around 3.30 p.m. and Mr. Narayanan was ceremonially welcomed back home.

The President, Mr. K. R. Narayanan, unveiling a stone sculpture at the Asian civilisation museum in Singapore on Monday.

- PTI

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