SURESH PRABHU GETS ADDITIONAL CHARGE OF CIVIL AVIATION
Only a couple of days after completing six months as the minister for commerce and industry, Suresh Prabhu has now been given additional charge of the civil aviation ministry. “As advised by the Prime Minister, President Kovind has directed that Suresh Prabhu, Cabinet minister, shall be assigned charge of the Union ministry of civil aviation, in addition to his existing portfolio,” President Ram Nath Kovind’s office tweeted on Saturday.
Only a couple of days after completing six months as the Minister for Commerce and Industry, Suresh Prabhu has now been given the additional charge of the civil aviation ministry.
“As advised by the Prime Minister, President Kovind has directed Shri Suresh Prabhu, Cabinet minister, shall be assigned charge of the Union ministry of civil aviation, in addition to his existing portfolio,” President Ram Nath Kovinds office tweeted on Saturday.
Andhra Pradesh’s ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP), led by N Chandrababu Naidu pulled out of the Narendra Modi government last Thursday. Two of its minister in the Union Cabinet tendered their resignations after that. This included civil aviation Minister P Ashok Gajapathi Raju.
Persons in the know confirmed to Business Standard that Prabhu will be taking up charge soon. They added the new role may not be for a long duration as both ministries require enormous attention and are dealing with a significant number of issues right now.
His current ministry, this boils down to the fight to pull in investments in the last leg of the governments tenure for the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion. For the Commerce Department, achieving significant momentum in multilateral trade negotiations — currently bogged down in a series of protectionism by foreign countries and the Trump administrations threat on raising tariffs — remains a prime goal. Case in point, India has invited trade ministers of over 50 nations including the US, China, and Pakistan to discuss key issues related with areas like agriculture and services.