Q2 GDP trend may continue: World Bank India head

Second quarter economic growth inched up to 4.8%, well above 4.4% in the first quarter

Encouraged by the 4.8 per cent economic growth in the second quarter, World Bank India head Onno Ruhl on Monday said the trend was likely to continue.

“If we look at the numbers, it clearly shows that we are trending up. That's really what we are hoping for, there are some signs that can actually make the credible scenario. I think the key for India is to recognise that India itself can do a lot. I think the results (second-quarter GDP growth) we just had, shows that is actually possible,” Ruhl said on the sidelines of CSR-CSO Bridge programme organised by CCI.

According to the latest government data, India's second quarter economic growth inched up to 4.8 per cent during second quarter (July-September) of 2013-14, compared with 4.4 per cent in the first quarter (April-June).

Ruhl said the World Bank was encouraged by the second quarter GDP numbers and sectors like exports, agriculture and service doing well.

"It looks like exports are picking up, agriculture is doing well and the service sector is still going strong. It did show some good results of 4.8 per cent in the second quarter. We are really happy about that". To a query on world economic situation, Ruhl said there remains an uncertainty because of the US Monetary Policy and that it is hard to predict the global situation.

However, he said the markets have already factored in the US quantitative easing (QE) tapering programme.     "Of course there is uncertainty because of what might happen to the monetary policy of the US. Hard to predict really about that... My personal guess is that the market has already factored in (the US QE tapering programme). Everybody knows it will happen sometime in the future, and therefore it would not be the same kind of surprise it was earlier this year," he said.