Thiruvananthapuram:
Speaking at a meet-the -press programme here yesterday,
Finance Minister Jaswant Singh said, "The country
will reach double-digit growth in single-digit years."
He
added that the GDP recorded 10.4 per cent growth in the
third quarter and this was the highest growth rate in
the world for a country like India. "This is sustainable,"
he said, adding that the projected growth of more than
eight per cent for 2003-04 would be achieved. The fiscal
deficit as a percentage of GDP projected at 4.6 per cent
was the best in the last 4-5 years.
The
target of achieving zero revenue deficit by 2007, as contained
in the Fiscal Management and Budgetary Reforms Act, was
realisable within the time-frame, Mr Singh said.
To
a question, he said the growth figures were not a "figment
of my imagination.They have been arrived at by the Central
Statistical Organisation."
On
the meagre drought relief assistance extended by the Centre
to Kerala, the Minister said that he had already held
talks in this regard with the Chief Minister and the State
Finance Minister.
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