Manmohan Singh calls on Kerala to accelerate economic reforms

Prime Minister Manmohan Sigh today said he wanted Kerala to accelerate the pace of economic reforms to tap private insvestment to achieve faster growth and take close look at the labour scenario to attract investors.  Inagurating the Kerala Development Congress organised by the Congress-sponsored Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Development Studies when the assembly polls are round the corner, Singh criticised the the LDF government for not fully utilising the centrally-sponsored schemes.   Stating that it was of utmost importance to create an investment-friendly atmosphere, the prime minister said the labour relations in Kerala required a close look to ensure that investors were not discouraged from coming to the state.  Lauding the state's achievements in education and health, Singh said the state also should also address challenges like creating old age security.  Singh also took a critical view on the state' high dependence on foreign remittance,saying this had made it vulnerable to international economic developments.  "I would like to say Kerala accelerate the pace of economic reforms in creating and enabling environment for private investment to create new employment oppotunities within the state.The state needs much more to be done in this regard," he said.  He said the state should do much more to improve its image as an investment destination. Entrepreneurs and investors should seek Kerala as an attractive destination. The area of labour relations, in factories and enterprises all across Kerala, is something we need to take a close look at. The investors should not feel discouraged because of the state of labour environment," he said.