India to remain fastest growing major economy in next decade: Report

NEW DELHI: India will remain the fastest growing major economy, much ahead of China, in the next decade 2019-28, according to a global economic research report.

The report prepared by Oxford Economics, which is engaged in global forecasting and quantitative analysis, said that India is likely to achieve an average growth of 6.5 per cent in 2019-28, the highest among the emerging economies.

India will be followed by the Philippines (5.3 per cent) and Indonesia (5.1 per cent), the report titled 'Emerging Markets Sustained Growth in EMs Calls for Thrift and Innovation' said.

China has been assigned the fourth slot with an average growth rate of 5.1 per cent for the next decade (2019-28).

The report is authored by eminent economist Louis Kuijs.

It pointed out that emerging markets (EMs) with sustained fast growth are distinguished by rapid capital accumulation – mainly domestically financed – and robust total factor productivity (TFP) growth.

"To achieve sustained rapid growth in the coming decades, EMs will need solid saving," the report said.

According to the report, to avoid the middle income trap (MIT), the upper middle income countries (MICs) in particular need to make progress in terms of 'mastering technology', raising the involvement of firms and/or people in innovation and R&D.

"Major saving is required for sustained rapid growth in emerging economies," it said, adding that TFP growth driven by innovation and R&D, especially in middle income countries.

India is projected to grow at 7.5 per cent in 2019 and 7.7 per cent in 2020, more than China's estimated growth of 6.2 per cent in these two years, according to the International Monetary Fund's recent World Economy Outlook update.