The Indian industry has drawn comfort from prime minister-designate Manmohan Singh's statement on investor-friendly economic policies.

The industry expressed confidence that growth will be maintained through well thought out economic program, the Press Trust of India reported Thursday.

Singh's statement that investor-friendly economic policy will be followed has given some comfort to the industry.

Overall, he has given very positive signals, PTI quoted Confederation of Indian Industry director general-designate N. Srinivasan as saying.

He said that Singh emphasized on employment generation and removal of poverty as key areas of his economic program, thus making it clear that development will be the focus of economic policies.

The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India also welcomed Singh's statement and hoped that next five years of his government will lay the foundation for robust growth of the economy and usher prosperity in the nation.

Expected to take the oath of office as India's prime minister Saturday, Singh reportedly said that he wanted development and reforms to generate benefits to a maximum number of people.

The 71-year-old Oxford and Cambridge educated Singh was propelled to the top post in a startling renunciation of premiership by his Congress party president Sonia Gandhi, before which he was widely tipped to become finance minister.

Source: Xinhua