Prime Minister Manmohan Singh promises more reforms

NEW DELHI: With no clear signs of economic turnaround, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today promised more reforms in the coming months as he met captains of industry and business who pushed for bold decisions and quick implementation.

At a meeting of PM's Council on Trade and Industry, he assured India Inc of government's commitment to reforms and promised more measures as he heard the business communities' complaints and suggestions to boost investors sentiment.

The agenda focused on measures to correct the current account deficit, the industrial slowdown and measures to revive it, rupee depreciation and its impact on trade and industry, skill development and development of industrial corridors.

The overall sentiment was on the need to bring back the mood, converting decisions to action and taking the country back to a growth path of 8 per cent or more, a PMO statement said.

"The Prime Minister wanted a report to be submitted within one month on what can be done in the next 2-3 months," it said after the meeting that lasted about 3 hours.

Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani said the industry believe in India growth story, a sentiment echoed by Bharti Group chief Sunil Mittal, who also wanted the government to take "brave and bold" in taking decisions.

The industry will rise to the occasion, Mittal said, according to sources.