Addressing the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) here on Saturday, Sinha said a 8-10 per cent sustained growth for the next 10 years would help the country tackle poverty and unemployment. ``We will evolve strategies which will directly impact these two areas. Steps will be taken to improve the quality of life,'' Sinha added.

Earlier talking to newspersons, Sinha said the current fiscal would see the economy growing at the rate of 7 per cent and the targetted growth rate of 8-10 per cent would be achieved in the next two years. The latest estimates have put the growth rate for 1999-2000 at 6.40 per cent against the earlier projection of 5.90 per cent.

Recalling the confidence various global agencies and independent economists have reposed in the country's economy, Sinha said a great amount of activity is being unleashed in the services sector. Inotech and construction sectors are better today than ever before.

Similarly, the manufacturing sector has grown 8.50 per cent during 1999-2000 and the growth in the construction sector is up to 9.1 per cent.