India's GDP to expand at 7.5% in 2017-18, says Arun Jaitley at G-20 meet

Arun Jaitley is in the US to attend the Spring Meetings of IMF and World Bank

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has discussed areas of collaboration with his Indonesian and Australian counterparts at bilateral meetings here.

Jaitley, who is in the US to attend the Spring Meetings of the IMF and World Bank, discussed with the finance ministers of the two countries possible areas of mutual collaboration and commonality of their positions at various multilateral fora.

Jaitley is accompanied by RBI Governor Urjit Patel, Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das and Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian.

Das held a separate meeting with representatives of credit rating agency Moody's, an official statement said.

During the meeting, Das stressed that India is recording GDP growth of over seven per cent at a time of stagnant global trade, subdued investment and heightened policy uncertainty.

Das also elaborated various steps taken by the Indian government for boosting growth, generating employment and financial inclusion.

The US-based agency has a 'Baa3' rating, a notch above the investment grade, on India with a positive outlook.

The Indian economy is estimated to have grown 7.1 per cent in 2016-17. According to the Economic Survey, growth will pick up to 6.75-7.5 per cent in the current financial year.

Indian economy will grow at a clip of 7.5 per cent this fiscal, up from 7.1 per cent in the previous year, and remains resilient with low inflation, fiscal prudence and low deficit, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said.

Participating in G-20 finance ministers' and central bank governors' meeting, he said emerging economies have become increasingly important in driving global growth, accounting for more than 75 per cent of global expansion.

Among emerging economies, "India has been a major driver of global economic growth with an expected growth of 7.5 per cent for 2017-18 against 7.1 per cent in 2016-17", an official statement quoted him as saying.

India's growth, he said, remains resilient with low inflation, fiscal prudence and low current account deficit (CAD), talking about robust structural reform measures.

Addressing the meeting on Friday, Jaitley said India is on course to introduce the goods and services tax (GST) from July this year.

GST, he said, will eliminate the multiplicity of taxes and make India a single common market.

As per IMF projections, India's medium-term growth is poised to go above eight per cent, Jaitley said.

About demonetisation, the finance minister said the move will push the Indian economy to a less-cash trajectory, increase tax compliance and reduce threats from counterfeit currency, which acts as a source of terror funding.

"These and many more multi-faceted reforms are expected to ensure India can withstand volatility of the global economy as well as ensure an upward growth trajectory," he asserted.

Jaitley is on an official tour to the US to attend the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank and other associated interactions.

He is accompanied by RBI Governor Urjit Patel, Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das and Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian.

Separately participating in the Development Committee Restricted Lunch Session on the theme of 'Inequality', Jaitley said rich nations still have a big responsibility and obligation to use their resources to support multilateralism. Also, they need to make institutions like the World Bank strong to be able to fund policies and programmes for growth and development of poorer nations.

India, according to Jaitley, has significantly stepped up investment in electricity, roads, financial access and housing for the poor and the government has taken a number of steps to ensure inclusive growth.

It is using technological innovations in a big way for better targeting of government services, he said.