SBI bracing itself to meet credit demand
Kolkata: The State Bank of India is gearing up to deploy large quantities of credit in major areas of infrastructure — power, roads and airports. The SBI chairman, A.K. Purwar, addressing members of Bharat Chamber of Commerce on Saturday said that SBI will urge corporates to prepare themselves for a possible rise in rates.

Purwar said that SBI does not visualise a scenario marked by a shortage of resources, despite the probable rise in credit requirement. "Credit growth is well-diversified. We have rarely seen such diversification," Purwar mentioned, adding that besides infrastructure, the farming and the SME segments are also throwing up significant demand for the lending community.

Referring to overseas acquisitions by Indian corporates, the SBI chief felt that the local entrepreneurs have turned to international markets in a big way. Companies are ready to acquire assets abroad, a trend that is reflected in recent moves by players like Bharat Forge. He mentioned that mid-sized corporates too were waiting to seize opportunities on this front.

The bank too had begun looking at international markets in a big way, and had already acquired a few small entities. Infrastructure development projects in urban areas will result in a major demand for credit in the coming days, Purwar said, adding that SBI will have to ready itself to tap the opportunity.
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