Manila, Nov 13: The task of transforming India is proceeding on an “unprecedented scale,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the powerful ASEAN grouping on Monday while hardselling his government’s economic reform initiatives to boost trade and investment.
Addressing the ASEAN Business Forum in the Philippines capital, the Prime Minister said most sectors of the Indian economy were opened up for foreign direct investment, adding the country’s economy is now “globally integrated.”
“The task of transforming India is proceeding on an unprecedented scale. We are working day and night to ensure good governance which includes easy, effective and transparent governance,” he said, noting that more than 90% FDI sectors are on automatic approval route.
Mr. Modi listed all major economic reform measures taken by his government, including rolling out of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and new laws and institutions for bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings. He said 1,200 out-dated laws have been repealed in the last three years as part of reform measures.
“India has climbed 30 places in the World Bank Ease of Doing Business Index this year. It is the biggest jump by any country this year and a recognition of India’s long term reform trajectory. And, the world is taking notice. We have moved up 32 places in the last two years in the Global Competitiveness Index of the World Economic Forum,” Mr. Modi said.
The Prime Minister said various reform measures coupled with demonetisation of high value notes have resulted in formalising a large part of the Indian economy.
Trilateral highway
On trade with ASEAN countries, Mr. Modi said India wants to build land, sea and air connectivity to this dynamic region and that work is already on in the construction of the trilateral highway through Myanmar and Thailand to connect to other countries in South East Asia.
“We are working on the early conclusion of the Agreement on Maritime Transport between India and ASEAN and are exploring coastal shipping services with countries that are our immediate maritime neighbours,” he added.
The trade ties between India and ASEAN are on an upswing and both sides want to further boost the trade and investment cooperation.
“The ‘Act East’ policy of my government puts this region at the centre of our engagement. We have exceptionally good political and people-to-people relations with each and every country in the ASEAN region,” he said.
The ASEAN region along with India together comprises combined population of 1.85 billion people, which is one fourth of the global population and their combined GDP has been estimated at over $3.8 trillion.
Global manufacturing hub
Investment from ASEAN to India has been over $70 billion in the last 17 years accounting for more than 17% of India’s total FDI.
Mr. Modi said his government wants to make India a global manufacturing hub and at the same time it wants the youths of the country to be job creators and not just job seekers.
The Prime Minister said 36 “white industries” have been taken out from the requirement of environmental clearance.
Incorporating a company is now just a one day affair, he said.
Mr. Modi also talked about the open auction policy for natural resources including telecom spectrum, coal mines and other minerals and even private radio channels, which he said has together contributed about $75 billion in revenue.
“Using technology, we are enhancing responsibility and reducing discretion and corruption. We are using our Unique ID system in financial transactions and taxation for this purpose and the results are already visible. These steps, coupled with demonetisation of high value notes, have resulted in formalising a large part of our economy,” he said.
Mr. Modi said the number of new tax payers filing income tax returns has more than doubled and that digital transactions have increased by 34% in one year, as “we march towards a less-cash economy.”
“We have used technology to reach out to people. An online citizen engagement platform, MyGov has harnessed ideas, suggestions and inputs on policies and programmes from 2 million pro-active citizens,” he added.
GST and DBT
On GST, he said it has done away with a vast range of State-level and Central-level taxes through out India. “This is no small achievement given the vastness and diversity of our country and the federal nature of our polity,” he added.
Mr. Modi said a “very large part” of India’s population had no access to banking services and launch of the Jan Dhan Yojana resulted opening of 197 million bank accounts in one year, adding till August this year, 290 million such accounts have been opened in Indian banks.
He said more than 146 million people are receiving direct cash subsidies through bank accounts on cooking gas alone.
“Today, the government is using Direct Benefit Transfers [DBT] for 59 different schemes. Subsidies worth nearly $10 billion are being directly transferred to the bank accounts of the intended beneficiaries,” he added.
“For the first time in India, collateral-free loans have been disbursed to more than 90 million small entrepreneurs under the Mudra scheme. Very near to the population of Philippines,” the Prime Minister said.
He said India is organising an ASEAN-India Connectivity Summit in New Delhi next month with Ministers, officials and business representatives from all ASEAN countries.
India is also organising an ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit of ASEAN leaders in January next year.
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