Proper planning necessary for manufacturing sector: Krishnamurthy

Jaipur, Nov 25 (UNI) National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council Chairman V Krishnamurthy today expressed concern over the slow growth of manufacturing activities in the country and said proper planning is necessary to ensure this sector was brought to centre stage.

Speaking at the third convocation ceremony of the Malviya National Institute of Technology here today, Mr Krishnamurthy said the industry which provided employment opportunities to people coming out of agriculture and rural areas, did not grow fast enough.

''We should not forget that 75 per cent of the India's total exports comes from the manufacturing sector and therefore effective measures and planning should be done to step-up manufacturing activities to a much higher level,'' he said.

This is necessary for a healthy and balanced growth to create the right type of job opportunities and to increase our global trade share which presently stands at a miserable one per cent, he added.

Terming manufacturing as engine of growth in the economy of a nation, Mr Krishnamurthy said the US, Japan, Germany, China and Korea were example to this.

Terming India's prospects as bright, Mr Krishnamurthy said India had vast experience in manufacturing goods and it also has a large pool of skilled manpower, established raw marterial and supply base and these constitutes potential to emerge as major manufacturing hub for global market.

Mr Krishnamurthy also stressed the need for a balanced growth with equal emphasis on agriculture, industry and services.

He said, ''Indian economy is recording a growth rate of 8-10 per cent but growth in one area alone is unlikely to produce the right type of results''.

''Ideally speaking, India should aim at a growth of 3-4 per cent in agriculture, 12-14 per cent in manufacturingt and 10-12 per cent in services to ensure an assured 9-10 per cent growth in GDP,'' he said.

All India Council for Technical Education Acting Chairman R A Yadav, Chairman, MNIT Board of Govenors Mukul Kasliwal and Rajasthan Director General of Police A S Gill were also present.

Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Trombay Director (Materials) Ashok Suri and Jaipur Vidhyut Vitran Nigam CMD R G Gupta were awarded with distinguished Alumnus Awards at the event.

About 465 students and scholars were awarded graduate and post graduate degrees at the function.

UNI