Economy will be Congress' priority: Manish Tewari

Says an environment should be created that would be easy for conducting business

If returned to power in 2014, the Congress would ensure that India becomes a middle-income country and no longer remains a low-income one, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Manish Tewari said Wednesday.

Tewari was delivering the Fullerton Lecture at the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) in Singapore when he said: "The obvious question that begs an answer is what must be the policy priorities of a Congress or UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government in 2014, if people do give us that opportunity".

"The first and foremost task is to ensure that India transcends from a low middle income to a middle income country. This would require liberalising our economy further to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows," Tewari said, according to a press release issued by his ministry.

He said an environment should be created that would be easy for conducting business, and ensuring that profit is not made to sound like a dirty word.

"Perform or perish must be the new administrative mantra of India," he said.

The Congress leader said tranquillity on India's borders, stability at home and an enlightened and secular leadership would ensure that goals of development are met, and India can engage with the world in a spirit of partnership.