New Delhi: The Goa government has requested Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to consider setting up an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in the state.

Minister of State for Human Resource Development M.A.A. Fatmi Wednesday informed the Rajya Sabha: "The chief minister of Goa (Digambar Kamat) has requested the prime minister for establishment of an IIM in Goa. The request would be considered as and when the government of India initiates the process of setting up of new IIMs in the country."

IIMs are the top business schools of India and are known for their quality education both in India and abroad.

There are at present six IIMs in the country - at Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Bangalore, Lucknow, Indore and Khozhikode.

In his Independence Day speech, Manmohan Singh had announced setting up of seven more IIMs.

Earlier this month, Tamil Nadu had appealed for setting up an IIM in Coimbatore. IANS