India will not pull out of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) but step up efforts to protect national interests for which it will seek help from other developing countries, the Prime Ministersaid in Rajya Sabha yesterday.
Replying to the discussion on the motion of thanks to the Presidents address, Vajpayee said the country could not afford to shy away from global competition, and asked Indian industry to step up research and development efforts to gear up to face external challenges.
After the country signed the WTO agreement, we took things easy and did not present our case strongly enough, he said, and added the BJP-led government would step up efforts to defend national interests wherever necessary. For this, we will find support from other developing countries, he said.
Stating that issues like the patenting of turmeric and basmati rice have been raised time and again, he said it was necessary for the country to have its own world-class patents. This is not an impossible task. And even if it is, we have to make it possible.
The Prime Minister cautioned the industry on the need for timely updating of technology as this is an era where the pace of technological obsolescence is rapid. He called for increased investments in research and development as a step towards gearing up for international competition. Stating that economic liberalisation has seen many ups and downs, Vajpayee said the Oppositions cooperation would be sought in its pursuit of evolving a consensus on key economic issues.
On the complaints of the Opposition during the three-day discussion that the government had not elaborated on the agriculture sector, he said the interest of the farm sector was uppermost in the governments agenda. Reiterating that reforms will be continued, he said it would be given a human face where the interests of the weaker sections of the society would be protected.Vajpayee said there was a peculiar situation insofar as social sector spending was concerned where funds were lying unutilised and underscored the need for novel methods to enhance farm output and bolster construction activities.
Referring to the economic reforms, the Prime Minister said his government would seek to evolve a consensus on priority areas of development though he would have thought it fit that the previous governments had also done the same. How can there be a difference of opinion on issues like employment and social sector spending? he asked.
He thanked leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Manmohan Singh for assuring constructive cooperation to the government and said it was important to have an Opposition and BJP had always acted responsibly when it played that role.
