PM inaugurates 92nd IEA conference at KIIT

Updated on: Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inaugurated the 92nd Indian Economic Association (IEA) Conference-2009 at KIIT on Sunday in presence of Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik. The three-day conference, organised and hosted by KIIT School of Management, KIIT University, concluded on Tuesday.

The PM, while inaugurating the conference, said that global economic slowdown has affected Indian economy for quite some time now resulting in a worrisome fall in the GDP. However, he hoped that the GDP would look up in the New Year as a result of a string of revitalising measures taken by the government in all sectors of the Indian economy, particularly agriculture.

Singh stressed on application of modern techniques in agriculture. The country's small scale industry needs refurbishment for generation of employment opportunity and thereby give a shot in the arm for the upward swing in the GDP, he reteirated. He lamented that the vision of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India to eradicate poverty is yet to be accomplished, though the country has a come a long way in this direction. The learned economist and premier congratulated Dr. A. Samanta, founder, KIIT Group of Institutions, for organising and hosting the IEA conference at KIIT and wished the conference a great success.

Speaking on the occasion, chief minister Naveen Patnaik stated that Orissa has been doing pretty well in public health care, electricity production and distribution, education, food production, etc. He asserted that special attention on self employment, creation of job opportunities for the youth and infrastructure development in the rural areas has brought the state on the fast-track for rapid economic development and poverty alleviation. The chief minister hoped that the 92nd IEA conference would go a long way in giving a direction to the planners. He extended his greeting to Dr. Samanta for facilitating the organisation and conduct of the conference at KIIT.

Five broad central themes have been selected for this year’s IEA Conference. These are Teaching and research in economics in India; Global economic crisis and Indian Economy; Economic geography and development; Structural reforms and agriculture and Aspects of development with special reference to Orissa. Each of these themes is further divided into sub-themes, which may give an idea about the particular areas of interest pursued by an individual researcher.

The conference was presided by C. H. Hanumantha Rao, president, IEA. Dr. Anil Thakur, secretary and treasurer, IEA, proposed the Vote of Thanks.

PM inaugurates 92nd IEA conference at KIIT

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