Be a part of India's economic march: PM to SA

Durban, Oct 01: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today reaffirmed India's goal of surpassing the eight per cent economic growth and asked the Indian community in South Africa to participate in this adventure.

Speaking at a reception for the Indian community in Durban tonight, the Prime Minister said India had the ambition of setting higher goals in the years to come.

''India is proud of its remarkable achievement in sustaining eight per cent growth of its economy. We have the ambition to set higher goals in the years to come... I invite you all to participate in this adventure of creativity and enterprise any way you can,'' he told the distinguished audience amid loud applause.

Describing the transformation in India as ''one of the most far-reaching revolutions of this century,'' the Prime Minister said more than a billion people were seeking salvation within the framework of an open society and an open economy. ''I have often said that the sun has set on all the great empires of the world, but the sun will never set on the homes of the people of Indian origin who now live in all continents as proud and productive citizens of free nations,'' he said amid applause.

Asserting that he had come to South Africa to ''renew a centuries old bond of friendship,'' the Prime Minister said Indians representing diverse faiths and speaking a variety of languages had contributed to South Africa's transformation.

''But, like their black brethren, they also faced discrimination and denial of rights. It was to this land of discrimination that Mahatma Gandhi came. He returned home an enlightened sould,'' Dr Singh said.

Recaling India's support to South African people's fight against apartheid, he said it was, therefore, natural that political relations between the two countries today were defined by warmth and kinship dating back to 19th century.

Describing as ''noteworthy'' the efforts of the Indian community in South Africa for their efforts in the development of the country, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that they would build a new South Africa with diligence, creativity and enterprise.

UNI