The competitiveness of the manufacturing industry is admittedly a function of the availability of reliable power supply at reasonable cost. The budget of 2004-05 has rightly emphasised the importance of power, airports and seaports (apart from tourism, which has significant employment potential) but there is need for implementation at a pace significantly faster than we have ever witnessed in any sector so far.
Sixth, there is universal recognition of the need to improve both productivity and output in the agriculture and related activities to meet the objectives of growth and employment. Yet, despite the best of efforts and excellent results achieved in that direction, there will have to be a massive shift of the workforce from agriculture to non-agricultural avocations.