BJP\'s victory to improve biz sentiment\, boost pvt investment: Fitch

BJP's victory to improve biz sentiment, boost pvt investment: Fitch

Press Trust of India  |  New Delhi 

The BJP's "apparent landslide victory" is likely to improve business sentiment and outlook for private investment, Ratings said Thursday.

According to the trend, the BJP-led NDA will form the government at the Centre for the second successive term with absolute majority.

"The BJP's apparent landslide victory marks an easing of political uncertainty and is likely to improve business sentiment and the outlook for private investment," Ratings Director Asia-Pacific said.

Fitch said although it expects the fiscal deficit to remain manageable in the next few years, but said it has seen "little indication" so far that the government will pursue significant deficit reduction of the order needed to meet the general government debt ceiling of 60 per cent of GDP by March 2025 as mandated by the FRBM Act.

The global rating agency said it expect the government to remain reform-minded, as the BJP's manifesto highlighted the aim to improve the business environment and governance standards, strengthen infrastructure, and stimulate the through a new industrial policy.

"Of particular importance from a credit perspective will be the extent of the next government's efforts to improve India's weak fiscal finances. Fiscal consolidation stalled under the BJP in recent years, and its campaign promise to support farmers' incomes has added to spending pressure," Rookmaaker said.

Last month, Fitch retained India's sovereign rating at 'BBB-', the lowest investment grade, with stable outlook, saying a weak fiscal position continues to constrain its rating.

It was the 13th year in a row that global rating agency Fitch has rated at 'BBB'. It had last upgraded India's sovereign rating from 'BB+' to 'BBB-' with a stable outlook on August 1, 2006.

Rookmaaker said another area of potential reforms is to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of government administration, and the legal and judiciary system.

"This would allow the government to solidify reforms of its first term, for instance by further enlarging the tax base and improving the credit culture," he said.

Earlier in the day, the US-based rating agency Moody's said its credit view on will depend on policies of the new government and expressed hope that the country would continue with its fiscal consolidation plan.

"Any credit implications of the outcome of India's will be determined by the policies adopted by the government in the next few years. These policies are yet to be formulated," said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Thu, May 23 2019. 20:16 IST