People and parties should realise that the current economic growth rate over 8% is due to an investment boom the country has been experiencing since the middle of 2004 and the inadequacy in infrastructure has stemmed from this investment pressure.

To sustain and improve the growth rate, domestic private investments and foreign investments are equally vital along with the public investment, said the Union Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, in his address at the special plenary session at the SPEED 2006 conference-cum-exhibition, organised by the Confederation Of Indian Industry the (CII) in association with the Government of Tamil Nadu here on Sunday.

He said enlarging the space for private investment in the telecom sector has resulted in a phenomenal growth and this applies equally to foreign investments. They move capital seeking opportunities and India, with its manpower capabilities that are second to none, should seek to benefit from it.

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