PC to open Economic Editors' Conference

Amid concerns of economic slowdown and challenges faced by critical sectors in the Indian economy, Finance Minister P Chidamrabaram will inaugurate the 2012 edition of Economic Editors' Conference in New Delhi on Monday.

The two-day deliberations that will be  addressed by Union Cabinet ministers will be attended by editors and economic writers from across the country at the National Media Centre here.

Chidambaram and colleagues are likely to deliberate on steps being taken by the government to revive growth at the two-day annual conference.

The conference also assumes importance as the UPA II had fired the big ticket reforms last week by approving proposals of foreign direct investment (FDI) in insurance and pension sector and  opening multi-brand retail to foreign investment to boost investor sentiments and economic growth.

There will be separate sessions with the ministers and senior officers of the key economic and infrastructure ministries participating in the conference, an official release said.

Chidambaram is likely to discuss the overall economic scenario, initiatives taken by the government and slowing growth.

Economic growth had slowed to a nine-year low of 6.5 per cent in 2011-12. The GDP growth in the April-June quarter of current fiscal was 5.5 per cent, lower than 8 per cent recorded in same period of last fiscal.

Besides Finance,  Ministries of Agriculture, Communications, Road Transport and Highways, Railways, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Civil Aviation, Power and Corporate Affairs are also participating in the conference.

On Monday, Communication and IT minister Kapil Sibal and newly appointed Railway Minister CP Joshi are likely to address the conference, while Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh, Power Minister Veerappa Moily and Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Jaipal Reddy are likely to interact with media on October 9.

The Press Information Bureau which is organizing the two-day event claims the conference will also provide an opportunity to the government to get feedback from the economic editors.