`Iprs To Conform To Global Standards

A political education process is on to forge a consensual approach. Once a consensus is evolved by the United Front government, a bill will be placed in the Parliament, Khanna said while observing the need to change the patent laws.

Howard Clark, chairman of the US-India business council, stressed the need for a healthy dialogue on the intellectual property rights and other sensitive issues so as to convince the people about the enormous opportunities India could gain from sectors like software, pharmaceuticals, and science and technology.

US ambassador Frank Wisner said India could not be ignored by global investors in the long run given the continental size of its economy and strong resource base.

 

At the meeting, BJP leader Pramod Mahajan dispelled fears of discontinuation of economic reforms in the event of a change in the government.

If economic reforms means deregulation, less red tapism and government bureaucracy, all political parties agree to these basic issues, Mahajan told the council.

He said frequent changes in the government should be construed as weak political situation but it is a condition born out of the parliamentary system we have adopted. Mahajan, however, expressed concern at the pace of reforms in the country and told the visiting American businessmen that any economy in the country is for the people of that country, indicating that foreign investments should ultimately help the common man.

He said the country requires huge investments in the infrastructure sector and commended Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda for taking a keen interest in it.