Observing that he has "new challenges and new promises," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Sunday that his "key priority" would be to impart a new momentum of dynamism to the management of infrastructure and take practical steps to cut bureaucratic delays in the clearance of projects in the pipeline.
"I have new challenges and new promises. My only wish and prayer is that I should be worthy of the trust and confidence that our people have placed on me," Singh told reporters accompanying him from New York to Geneva.
Singh, who was greeted on his 72nd birthday on board Air-India's special aircraft "Tanjore', said, "I have a lot of things to do. If I can impart a new momentum of dynamism to the management of India's infrastructure, that will be my key priority."
India is already the world's fourth largest economy, "but that is not good enough," Singh said, adding, "India is a country of tremendous creativity. There is vast untapped potential".
Contending that the world respects strength, he said it was the inherent strength that determined the place India enjoyed in the comity of nations.
Singh said during his childhood he was inspired by a Punjabi couplet recited by General Mohan Singh, who was one of the founders of the Indian National Army, which says "Duniya mandi joron nun, laklanat kamjoron nun" (world respects strength, not the weak).
He said if India is to be taken seriously, it has to develop inherent strengths, social equity and cohesions. "At the same time, we must accept all responsibilities that go with being a responsible power."
On concerns voiced by non-resident Indians, the prime minister said steps would be taken to streamline procedures for clearance of projects in the pipeline.
"We will undertake to exercise all practical steps that will help cut bureaucratic delays," he said.
He promised measures to shorten the period of conception of a project and its implementation. He also assured the small and medium enterprises that their problems would be addressed by the United Progressive Alliance government.