Establish global benchmarks in governance, taxation my priority: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday said his priority was that India should establish global benchmarks in areas such as governance, transparency and taxation.

Interacting with participants of the BlackRock India Investor Summit over dinner, he said the priority of his government was "growth and jobs".

Noting there was growing interest in India and "we have to accept that responsibility", Modi said he believes in a fair, predictable and consistent tax system and in economic policies that will drive growth.

Noting that development of infrastructure was one of the best ways to create jobs for the youth, he said the country needs expansion and improvement in its infrastructure.

Modi said that railways can become a growth engine for the economy, while the goal of affordable housing for all by 2022, would in itself, provide a huge boost.

He said the government was focusing on skill development not only to meet needs of industry within the country but also outside.

An official release said that 21 major global investors participated in the investor summit.

Modi congratulated Laurence Fink, chairman and CEO BlackRock, and the finance ministry for organizing the summit.

Union ministers Arun Jaitley, Nitin Gadkari, Suresh Prabhu, Dharmendra Pradhan, Piyush Goyal and Jayant Sinha were present at the dinner.