The Hindu Business Line : Manmohan Singh to head CCEA

THE new United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government has constituted the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh.

The other members are the Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram; the Agriculture, Food & Civil Supplies Minister, Mr Sharad Pawar; the Defence Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee; the Commerce and Industry Minister, Mr Kamal Nath; the Railways Minister, Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav; the Chemicals & Fertilisers Minister, Mr Ram Vilas Paswan; the Shipping, Road Transport & Highways Minister, Mr T.R. Baalu; the Power Minister, Mr P.M. Sayeed; the Communications and IT Minister, Mr Dayanidhi Maran; and the Rural Development Minister, Mr Raghuvansh Prasad Singh.

In addition to the above Cabinet Ministers, the CCEA will also include the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission (yet to be appointed) as a `special invitee', an official release stated here today.

Panel on WTO: The Prime Minister, Mr Manmohan Singh will head the Cabinet Committee on WTO which will decide on issues pertaining to the international trade organisation.

The Committee will have nine Ministers as members besides two special invitees.