India Inc urges Government to scale down CAD

28 Jun 2013 Evaluate

As the Current Account Deficit (CAD) touched a record level of 4.8 percent of GDP in 2012-13, India Inc suggested the government to take all policy measures, in order to boost exports and foreign exchange inflows to cut down CAD. Increase in gold and oil imports are the major reasons for the rise in CAD. However, in January-March quarter, it came down to 3.6 percent of GDP because of the steps taken by the government to arrest the imports of gold and partly due to lower imports of oil. Stagnation in non-oil and non-gold imports due to the economic slowdown also helped to moderate the deficit.

According to Chandrajit Banerjee, the CII Director General, CAD is much above the comfort level of 2.5 percent which is a big concern. In order to increase FII inflows, and scale up the foreign exchange reserves, the government needs to take bold policy decisions keeping the objective of cutting down the deficit. Boosting exports must be an important part of the policy, whereas the government should also introduce attractive financial instruments to divert household savings in non-productive assets like gold.

As per, D S Rawat, Assocham Secretary General, modification is needed in the foreign trade and industrial competitiveness strategies. The policy makers also have to consider cutting down imports of non-essential items which include second hand and re-manufactured goods, particularly non-competitive goods from China. The industry leaders stated that the effect of reduction in CAD in Q4 will appreciate rupee.

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