Gujral Committed To Open Skies Policy

Prime Minister I K Gujral has virtually committed his government to opening up Indias civil aviation policy, publicly asking the civil aviation secretary to note my commitment to this at a luncheon meeting here yesterday.

Civil aviation secretary M K Kaw was seated in the audience as Gujral answered questions at the reception organised jointly by the Federation of Nepalese Cham-bers of Commerce and Industry and the Confederation of Indian Industry.

I am totally dissatisfied with Indias civil aviation policy, Gujral said, adding, one cannot think of SAFTA, of modernisation, or of openness if the countrys skies were not open. He said he had received complaints about this from various quarters.

The Prime Ministers talk of open skies, in reply to a question from Rajendra Khaitan, chairman of Nepals private Everest Airlines, indicated a determination to reverse the restrictive policies of civil aviation minister C M Ibrahim. It could even lead to Ibrahim being shifted in the reshuffle that is likely to take place soon after his return from the present tour.

Ibrahims new civil aviation policy guidelines, passed by the Cabinet a couple of months ago, had effectively put the brakes on the Tata-Singapore Airlines project and even reversed, to some extent, the P V Narasimha Rao governments liberalisation of the sector.

Gujrals thrust, however, appeared to be clearly towards an openness with regard to trade and investment in a range of sectors, not just in civil aviation.

In reply to a question on trade in agricultural products, the Prime Minister said: One thing I am very incompetent about is detailed knowledge of agriculture. But on the face of it, I dont see why not. Please go ahead and we will support it.

In similar vein, Gujral drew applause for his frankness, indicating a zeal for liberalisation with every prompt and positive reply to suggestions on freer trade.

He told the audience that when his counterpart from one of the other Saarc countries had asked him, during discussions at the Male summit a month ago, as to when India would be ready for a South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA), he had replied: tomorrow.

He added that he had told the Prime Minister of Nepal, who was seated beside him at the luncheon, that whenever anything more was needed to be done by India to liberalise trade between the two countries, he has the power of attorney to sign on my behalf.

Senior officials in the delegation accompanying the Prime Minister, say that Gujral has, at times, overruled them all to agree to Nepals requests. For instance, India is to open a 61 km transit route from Nepal to Bangaladesh immediately, for an experimental period of six months. The officials, though, hope that this would lead to a transit route through Bangladesh from West Bengal to the North-east, which would benefit India greatly.

Just before he answered questions at the luncheon, Gujral concluded his formal speech at the reception by saying that ultimately, business cooperation spells the future. It was while answering questions, though, that he revealed a complete openness to ideas about liberalising trade and promoting private investment.

Asked if Nepali newspapers could sell in India, Gujral replied: Are they banned at the moment? On the possibility of a special zone of trade involving Bangaladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and India, he responded: Why not? He said he supported Nepals efforts in this direction and whatever you decide, India will cooperate.

After a seven per cent growth in the past three years, India hoped for ten per cent growth, he said, adding that he wanted to move together in this

The Prime Minister urged Nepalese businessmen to look through the prism of private enterprise and public awareness so that there could be economic progress along with social justice.

Ministry to focus first on pvt airport projects Page 16

I am totally dissatisfied with Indias civil aviation policy ... one cannot think of SAFTA, of modernisation, or openness if the countrys skies are not open.

INDER KUMAR GUJRAL

Kamla Sinha may

get external affairs

Trade union leader Kamla Sinha, who was recently inducted as a minister along with three other women into the Gujral government, is tipped to get the external affairs portfolio. Senior officials in the Prime Ministers delegation to Nepal, yesterday said Gujral had given such an indication in a private conversation.

The only minister originally listed in the delegation was power minister S Venugopalachari, although eight secretaries, including T R Satish Chandran, principal secretary to the Prime Minister, are part of the delegation.

David Devadas