Chidambaram bats for strong economy

It is very important for the country to build a strong economy which will help fetch respect globally, Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said here Wednesday.

"It is very important to build a very strong economy. I have seen how we were seen by the world when our economy was at 8-9 percent and when we are at five percent," he said, while addressing the memorial meeting of Rama Prasad Goenka, former chairman, RPG Enterprises.

"When India will become a strong economy growing at 8-9 percent, year-after-year for long period of time, we will be respected," Chidambaram said.

He emphasised that when it come to building strong economy, there is no big differences in opinion between two major political parties in India. "The regional parties have different perspectives."

"But we have not been able to give legal basis to many policies that we both agree upon. That is the only regret that I have in the 10th year of our government, if we still get 11th year or in the first year of another match (tenure), we must work together to build a strong economy," he added.