Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday declared that his government was determined to carry forward the economic reforms process and that he would use his visit to New York to convey this message.
"I will take advantage of being in the US to convey that the government is determined to carry forward the process of economic reform, which will increase opportunities for greater economic interaction," he said in a statement prior to leaving for London en route New York.
Congress party president Sonia Gandhi, senior Cabinet ministers and officials lined up at the Panchwadi conference hall of the Prime Minister's official residence at 7, Race Course Road to give him a warm send off.
Dressed in a smart grey bandhgala suit, Manmohan Singh smiled broadly and accepted the flowers some ministers presented to him before reading a departure statement.
The Prime Minister will arrive in New York after an 18-hour stopover in London, during which he will hold talks with his British counterpart Tony Blair.