Govt optimistic of hitting double-digit growth in 2014

The government is optimistic gross domestic product (GDP) growth would hit double digits in 2013-14, external affairs minister S M Krishna said today.

Addressing a Congress party meeting here, he said the aim of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is for a double-digit GDP growth rate. "We are optimistic of reaching that aim in 2013-14," Krishna said.

He said the country's GDP grew by 8-9 per cent last decade, but in recent years, it slowed down to 7.2-7.5 per cent because of the natural impact of the recessionary trends globally.

Krishna also said India's responsibility at the global level is on the rise in recent years. He had visited 77 countries in the last two-and-half years as external affairs minister. He termed the visits of US and French Presidents, and Prime Ministers of the UK, China and Russia as one of "symbolism". "This symbolism is the new-found relevance and importance of emerging India in the global profile," he said.