Slow economic growth phase not to last long: PM

With economic growth at the lowest level in a decade, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today hoped the slow pace will not last long as the government is working hard to remedy the situation.
"I believe that this phase of slow growth in India will not last long... The average rate of economic growth that we have attained in the last nine years shows what we are capable of. However, economic growth has slowed down at present and we are working hard to remedy the situation," Singh said in his address to the nation on the occasion of the 67th Independence Day.

In the last nine years, the economy has grown at an annual average rate of 7.9 per cent. "This pace of development is the highest in any decade so far," he said.
After growing at over 8 per cent for two consecutive years, the economic growth slowed to 6.2 per cent in 2011-12 and further to decade's low rate of 5 per cent last year on account of poor performance of farm, manufacturing and mining sectors.
India is not the only country facing economic slowdown, Singh said, adding world over there has been a slump in export markets and growth in developing countries have been affected.

"It is not only our country that is facing economic difficulties. The last year has been difficult for the world economy as a whole. Major European nations are experiencing a slowdown these days," he added.
The government expects the economy to grow around 6 per cent in the current fiscal. It has been taking measures to increase investments, especially attracting foreign funds, to push growth.
"The average rate of economic growth that we have attained in the last 9 years shows what we are capable of," Singh said.