ADB lowers India growth forecast for FY18

Demonetisation and GST have dented consumer spending and business investment, the multilateral lender stated

Press Trust of India  |  New Delhi 

ADB Report
The latest ADB report remains sanguine for much of the developing Asia in growth metric

has downgraded India's projection to seven per cent for the current fiscal year, while lowering its forecast for the next financial year as well.

"India's gross domestic product (GDP) is downgraded to seven per cent in financial year 2017-18, a 0.4 percentage point drop from the April forecast. In financial year 2018-19, the forecast is adjusted down to 7.4 per cent, from 7.6 per cent," said in its Asian Development Outlook 2017 update.

However, the multilateral lender said India continues its strong showing although and implementation of the new goods and services tax regime have dented consumer spending and business investment.

These short-term disruptions are expected to dissipate allowing these initiatives to generate dividends over the medium term, it added.

The latest report remains sanguine for much of the developing Asia in metrics as a result of the broad-based recovery in global trade, robust expansion in major industrial economies and improved prospects of China.

This will all combine to push in the developing Asia for 2017 and 2018 above previous projections, it added.

According to Chief Economist Yasuyuki Sawada, prospects for the developing Asia are looking up, bolstered by a revival in world trade and strong momentum in China.

"Countries in developing Asia should take advantage of favourable short-term to implement productivity-enhancing reforms, invest in badly needed infrastructure, and maintain sound macroeconomic management to help increase their long-term potential," he added.

said a loose fiscal policy in the US and lower oil prices are potential upside risks to the region while downside ones include tighter global liquidity, economic disruption from a geo-political event, or a weather-related disaster.

First Published: Wed, September 27 2017. 02:41 IST