India Review A PUBLICATION OF THE EMBASSY OF INDIA, KABUL VOLUME 2 ISSUE 11 NOVEMBER 2006

Pranab Mukherjee is Minister for PMPM ININ BRITBRITAINAIN External Affairs IInnddiiaa,, BBrriittaaiinn pplleeddggee ttoo eennhhaannccee ranab Mukherjee, who ccooooppeerraattiioonn aaggaaiinnsstt tteerrrroorriissmm,, took charge as India’s new Minister for Ext- ssiiggnniiffiiccaannttllyy iimmpprroovvee eeccoonnoommiicc ttiieess P ernal Aff- airs on Oct- ober 24, is a political veteran who has held practically every major portfolio, including that of External Affairs. A man of remarkable con- trasts, he is the senior-most and the most experienced minister in the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh being welcomed to 10 Downing Street by British Prime Minister Tony Blair on October 10. Cabinet. And although he rime Minister Man- that visits to Britain were always a lems affecting bilateral economic won his first Lok Sabha elec- mohan Singh and his sentimental journey for him. cooperation. “These are very tion only two years ago, he British counterpart To the glee of British CEOs, much our concerns,” Manmohan has for long been calling the Tony Blair on October Manmohan Singh announced Singh assured the business com- shots in the Congress in his 10 ended a day of that the booming Indian econo- munity at Lancaster House. home state of West Bengal, politicalP dialogue and the first my could absorb $320 billion in On a question comparing India at one time as the president bilateral business summit of the investments in infrastructure and China, he said: “The world of the state unit. two nations on an optimistic alone in the next five years. is large enough to accommodate Mukherjee is the man the note, pledging enhanced cooper- The architect of India’s sweep- the growth ambition of both government often turns to in ation to combat terrorism and ing economic reforms, Man- China and India.” crises. He presides over cab- promising greater econom- Addressing the U.K.- inet meetings when Prime ic ties. India Investment Summit, Minister Manmohan Singh is Besides discussing issues The architect of India’s he promised further liberal- out of India, a responsibility ranging from South Asia to sweeping economic reforms, isation in trade and services, that was thrust on him also North Korea’s nuclear tests, including financial and legal when Indira Gandhi ruled the Manmohan Singh and Blair Prime Minister Manmohan services –– but his focus country during 1980-84. A spent time with business Singh, speaking at the India was on the infrastructure Finance Minister in Indira leaders of India and Britain sector. Gandhi’s Cabinet, a job that trying to untie the knots Investment Summit, hinted at “I would like to see high- earned him many kudos, blocking deeper economic more reforms in the banking er FDI inflows, particularly Mukherjee came to head the linkages. in infrastructure,” he said. Ministry of External Affairs The Prime Minister said and monetary sectors, saying he “India also offers tremen- briefly when P.V. Narasimha that he and Blair conducted was engaged in “useful discus- dous new opportunities in Rao was Prime Minister. “a useful review of issues of manufacturing, particularly Born December 11, 1935, global importance and con- sions” on these issues. in automobile and auto he has a degree in law from cern (and) shared perspec- components, pharmaceuti- the University of Calcutta. tives on developments in cals and bio-technology and Among his career highlights, our regions”. mohan Singh hinted at more food processing.” he was president of the The chemistry between the two reforms in the banking and mon- Britain is India’s fourth-largest Group of 24, a ministerial leaders was visible at all venues, etary sectors, saying he was trading partner and the fifth- group attached to the IMF with Blair asserting at their joint engaged in “useful discussions” largest source of foreign invest- and World Bank. He was press conference at 10 Downing on these issues. ment. India has emerged as the rated as one of the best five Street that India can never be Indian and British business third largest investor in Britain in Finance Ministers of the compared with North Korea and leaders brought to the notice of terms of the number of projects. world in 1984 by Euro with Manmohan Singh saying the two Prime Ministers prob- Continued on page 2 Money. !