The CST-100 Starliner test mission will ferry two Nasa astronauts to the International Space Station
space1 hour ago
Till few months ago, it seemed, nothing could stop this economic behemoth. But in less than six months, growth has slipped drastically, stocks are down 60 per cent, and global stock market investors are seen fleeing.
While the business sector may blame the ruling multiparty government for failing to make timely reforms, and the global financial woes as reasons for the mayhem, the government seem unfazed of the catastrophe. Annual growth is set to come down from a sound 9 per cent to 6.5 per cent; with inflation doubling at nearly 12 per cent.
Corporate and industrial profits that surged 20 per cent is facing a steep slide.
The stock market that rose 50 per cent in 2007 with Sensex touching a record 21,000 is on a virtual precipice at 10,000. In April, the consumer demand was colossal, Indian companies were making impressive global acquisitions, and foreign investment was seen growing; today it’s the other extreme.
Economic forecasts expect
So why has
Well, the government blames global circumstances — the oil prices, the sub-prime crisis that emaciated the flow of foreign funds, the global markets on abyss. But didn’t the government fail to initiate timely actions that could have avoided the collapse?
The deputy chairman of the planning commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia admits in an interview, “There has been a deficiency of skillful planning. What we should have done a year ago to check the impending crisis, we are forced to do it now. This will not speak well of us. But we are doing everything possible to contain the fall.”
Take the case of
Veteran economists Subir Gokarn from Standard & Poor raises concerns on the government’s decision to spend $25 billion on waiving loans made to farmers and hiking bureaucrats’ salaries. “These are examples of how to ruin your growth when anxiety should be more towards safeguarding your economy owing to the global calamity,” he asserts.
The government, nevertheless, does not fail to draw attention of what world see as
Minister for finance P Chidambaran asserts quoting World Bank president Robert Zoellick as saying: “
However, regardless of government’s upbeat mood, the situation isn’t hunky dory. Consider this: the government has astronomical expenditures to make. There is an additional $25 billion as fertilizer subsidies, which has added $100 billion a year, a little more than 10 per cent of
At a time when government needs to spend $500 billion on infrastructure development and an equally sizeable amount on advancing health-care facilities and education, the economic collapse could not have come at a worse time. One approximation suggest, the government’s official debt has now gone up to 10 per cent of GDP in 2008 after it dropped below 6 per cent in 2007.
The amount of FDI inflows in 2007-08 fiscal was $24,579 million. In 2006-07, it was $15,726 million; it witnessed a growth of 56 per cent from 40 per cent over the last fiscal. But in the current year, it is all set to go down by 35 per cent.
The Merrill Lynch predicts corporate earnings growth to dip from 20 per cent in 2007 to 10 per cent.
The slowdown coupled with the global economic collapse is making
ravi@khaleejtimes.com
The CST-100 Starliner test mission will ferry two Nasa astronauts to the International Space Station
space1 hour ago
According to Palestinian prisoner associations, the health worker had been detained by Israeli forces while temporarily working at Al-Awada Hospital
mena1 hour ago
Arfan Bhatti, a 46-year-old Islamist who has lived and is well-known in Norway, is suspected of having planned the attack
world1 hour ago
Alvarez, who will be chasing the 61st victory of his dazzling career, says he has everything he needs to win
sports1 hour ago
The World No 1s quest for a record-breaking eighth world snooker title was shattered by Stuart Bingham in the quarter-finals at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre this week
sports1 hour ago
Substantial investments in major airports will drive tourism and GDP growth
business technology review1 hour ago
The city hosts hundreds of entertainment events yearly, attended by millions of people
uae1 hour ago
Spelling bee contest, storytelling with puppets, book donation drive among activities at 7-day event at Saadiyat Island
uae2 hours ago