More reforms in next few days, don't buy gold: Chidambaram


New Delhi, Jun 13 (PTI): Seeking to accelerate reforms to spur investments, finance minister P Chidambaram on Thursday said the government will announce host of decisions, including relaxation of FDI caps and resolution of gas and coal prices, in the next few days.

He further said there was no need for panic over declining value of rupee and the domestic currency would regain the losses suffered in last few days and stabilise.

"I am looking forward to more reforms... I expect a number of decision in the next few days and weeks... In June, you can expect number of decisions taken and implemented that will accelerate reforms and spur investments in critical sectors," Chidambaram said.

He said the decision will be taken on coal and gas pricing, coal allocation to power plants, FDI limit in various sectors, including defence, and skill development.

Chidambaram said the Sebi board will take a decision on K M Chandrasekhar committee report on rationalisation of foreign investment norms on June 25.

The minister was addressing media in the backdrop of steep decline in rupee which on Tuesday touched life-time low of 58.96 intra-day against the US dollar.

Rupee, which touched 58.22 to a dollar in early trade, lost ground during the day, and is currently trading at 58.48 on Thursday.

"There is no reason for panic... Countries with large current account deficit have taken a hit on currencies. Rupee will find its level. We are concerned about volatility. Rupee will regain losses suffered in the last few days," he said.

Expressing satisfaction over declining gold imports, Chidambaram appealed to the people to "resist the temptation to buy gold" saying it will dramatically change the CAD position.

Chidambaram, however, ruled out any immediate hike in gold import duty saying he doesn't want to be "too unpopular".

Chidambaram said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called a meeting of the finance minister and other key advisers to discuss steps to revive investment and stalled projects.

The government should keep in mind the long-term interest while taking important decision relating to pricing of natural resources, he said.

Chidambaram said the steps taken by the government since August last year have yielded results and the fiscal deficit has come down to 4.9 per cent in 2012-13 and inflation has moderated.

The economic condition is stronger today than what it was in the same period last year, he said, adding that lot of people continue to keep faith in India growth.

The government, he said, will leave no stone unturned to achieve the revenue targets in the current financial year and hoped that fiscal deficit of 4.8 per cent is achievable. "If it is better, so be it," he added.

The stocks markets today tanked sharply and the BSE benchmark Sensex was trading down by 217 points to 18,824.86 in the afternoon trade.

Ruling out any expenditure compression in the current fiscal, the minister said the ministries have been asked to move ahead with their investment plans, which is necessary for improving investment sentiment and reviving growth.

"Revenue collections are satisfactory. I will achieve my revenue target. I will leave no stone unturned to achieve the revenue target," he said.

Replying to a question on whether government was contemplating a VDIS (Voluntary Disclosure of Investment Scheme) type amnesty scheme to bring out gold, the minister said: "I have one wish if people of India can fulfil is that don't buy gold."

Chidambaram further said the real concern is the performance of the crude, natural gas and fertilisers sector as they have recorded negative growth in last three years.

"We need to get our act together. I am sure we can share some decisions in July," he said.

On the possibility of issuing NRI bonds to raise overseas funds, the minister said: "Can't answer question on which decision have not been taken. We are watching the situation. When we take a decision, we will share it with you".

Asked about disinvestment of Coal India, the minister said the coal major was on the list of PSUs which have to be divested and the ministry will try to impress upon the trade unions that funds raised would be used for capital expenditure of other state-owned companies.

"I have to put in Rs 15,000-20,000 crore annually for five years into PSU banks," he said.

On the impact of rupee depreciation on subsidies, Chidambaram said it will have a bearing on goods which are imported.

However, as far as the domestic prices of petroleum products are concerned, he said, the impact of rupee decline could be neutralised by a decline in value of crude oil in international markets.

  

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Comment on this article

  • vassu, kudla

    Fri, Jun 14 2013

    every thing will fall in place if all the corrupt leaders are put behind the bars and all the black money they have is confiscated. Instead of doing such things the our FM is preaching the public. Even otherwise theyare torturing the public by raising the cost of everything. He doesnt dare to touch the likes of Robert wadra and co but he wants common man to sacrifice for the country. Funny!

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Rion, udupi

    Thu, Jun 13 2013

    Dear Chidambaram, why you are not thinking of bringing illegal multi billion dollar lying in SWISS banks, instead of kicking public in this way??

    DisAgree Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Wilson DSouza, Moodbidri

    Thu, Jun 13 2013

    Don't buy gold, don't eat too much, don't drink too much ,.... and India will prosper.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • G.W.Carlo, Hassan

    Thu, Jun 13 2013

    What did you say Chidu? Don't buy Gold?
    I said this to my wife and she retorted, 'you're nuts!'

    DisAgree Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ronald D, Udupi

    Thu, Jun 13 2013

    Vikram, it is a temporary satisfaction! Due to rupee sliding inflation going up. You end up paying more for everything...fuel to food and so on! It is better financial brains work out something applicable to macro situation.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Arif, Mangaluru/Dubai

    Thu, Jun 13 2013

    If you can put effort to bring back the swiss black money to the country then all these issues related to economy might be fixed. You cannot tell what people should buy and sell as long as they are legal stuffs. People did not buy gold until your govt.went into corruption and all scandals. They lost faith in the Govt and its their right to safeguard their wealth. Hence they started investing in gold/lands as these are real assets and cannot be simply "printed" by your RBI vending machine which is actually erosing the vales of paper money day-on-day, month-on-month and year-on-year. Have you ever heard of negative inflation? This proves that paper money is losing its values every day. None can "create" gold or "lands" hence its values will always remain irrespective what prices the capitalist defines.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • Matthew, Nitte/UAE

    Thu, Jun 13 2013

    Gold is the only REAL money, and an excellent hedge against inflation. Rupee on the other hand has lost 60% of its value against dollar in just 5 years ! Gold has always been valued in Indian culture, and rightly so.

    The government which is now worried current account deficit (CAD)and blaming gold for it, does not realize that CAD was due to their relentless spending habits,endless corruption, and ridiculous welfare schemes ( like NREGA, 20000 cr loan waiver for farmers etc ). Then they go on and blame the common man for putting their savings in gold..

    DisAgree Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vikram, Dubai

    Thu, Jun 13 2013

    No need reforms, uniforms or any sort of forms Mr. Chidu... We NRI's are very happy of this Rupee depreciation...baki sab bad mein jaye...

    DisAgree [23] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • D.Prasad, Udupi

    Thu, Jun 13 2013

    CHIDAMBARAM SAYS "WAIT FOR FEW DAYS WE WILL HAVE ONE MORE SCAM AND SELL OUR COUNTRY".
    SHAME ON YOU CONGRESS
    SHAME ON YOU UPA.

    DisAgree [43] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • C Sharath, Mangalore

    Thu, Jun 13 2013

    Some striking kickback deal is sure to be happening behind backdoors.

    DisAgree [10] Agree [22] Reply Report Abuse

  • flavian dsouza, chik/banaglore

    Thu, Jun 13 2013

    All global economies went into recession including China , brazil, germany , greece etc . We never faced manjor problems and thanks to the UPA and RBI for continousaly making changes to the policies. World is respecting us for managing a billion people economy without much pain and recession infact we have sustained our growth for 9 years except this year !!average growth of 7% for the last 9 years is a tremendous effort.If we had a majority we would have passed bills which would have changed the face of the country. Modi is just tall claims has he made surat into singapoire and ahemadabad into amsterdam !!all hype will just diappear people are very watchfull.

    DisAgree [12] Agree [28] Reply Report Abuse

  • Matthew, Nitte/UAE

    Thu, Jun 13 2013

    Flavion, that is incorrect. India too went under a severe recession during 2008-09. The sensex lost more than 60% of its value during this time, and is yet to reach the highs it made in 2007. Where as S&P 500, Nikkei, DAX and FTSE have all made new all time highs.

    India still having some semblance of growth is due to our low base. That is, the per capita GDP of India is less than $1900. From such a low base,5-6% of growth is a given.

    As citizens of India, what you need to worry is the massive devaluation of rupee (lost 60% against USD in just 5 yrs), 7% fiscal deficit and a growing current account deficit. The current growth has fallen to an abysmal 4% which is nowhere sufficient to support our young, and growing population. The last 5 years have been nothing short of disaster and the government has itself to blame.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • ISMAIL.K.PERINJE, PERINJE-YANBU/KSA

    Thu, Jun 13 2013

    Mr Mathew,

    You might be a student of ECONOMICS and I am impressed with your assessment.But to know your technical analysis those who read must be well versed with current affairs and basic knowledge economic activities of the country.Even though I am getting more Indian currency for RIYAL, basically I don't like it.Keep writing...

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Dinesh Poojary, Kundapura/Bengaluru

    Thu, Jun 13 2013

    You have done so many reforms for corruption, swiss bank money transfer etc etc which resulted in Rupee inching towards first class (60) marks against dollar. We thank you for all your services. For the next 10 months somehow we need to tolerate. God Bless You..

    DisAgree [33] Agree [22] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rakesh Dsouza, Mangalore, Dubai

    Thu, Jun 13 2013

    A honest and wise appeal from Chidu to the Indian people.

    But funny part is for sure Indian people never stop buying Gold at any cost.

    Gold is one of the neccesity for Indian people.:)

    DisAgree [9] Agree [30] Reply Report Abuse

  • juliet mascarenhas, bejai mangalore

    Thu, Jun 13 2013

    Sachianna, irena kai tharet ath, Baik pathle

    DisAgree [11] Agree [32] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sachidanand Shetty, Mundkur/Dubai

    Thu, Jun 13 2013

    So, Chidu Saab you will screw Indians further correct? What else we can expect from you and your UPA-2 Government? Our old age slogan of life still stands good like “Namma Tare Ke Nammane Kai” but sure not Congress “Kai”

    DisAgree [42] Agree [23] Reply Report Abuse


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