Top Indian industry executives who spoke at an Economic Summit held in New Delhi from November 4 – 6, 2014, welcomed the Modi government’s initiatives in land and labor reforms. Quicker approvals for business would boost manufacturing and creation of jobs they said.
The government, which came to power promising to revive the economy, has raised foreign direct investment (FDI) limits in defense, real estate and railways, and freed diesel prices. Modi is aiming to replicate at the national level his success in bringing investments to Gujarat as the state’s chief minister by easing the country’s cumbersome labor laws and cutting red tape.
“I am extremely confident. A country in general needs leadership and there is a leadership; it needs direction and there is a direction; it needs confidence and there is confidence here in India,” said Etienne Benet, head of Nestlé South Asia Region and Nestlé India.
Inflation measured in terms of wholesale price index touched a five-year low of 2.4% in September. Retail inflation has also dropped to 6.5%, the lowest since the new series was released in January 2012.
“This is a large flywheel. It is not a jump-start, it takes a while to gain momentum. I see signs that the flywheel is beginning to move,” said Anand Mahindra, chairman and managing director of Mahindra & Mahindra the Indian multinational automobile manufacturing corporation headquartered in Mumbai.
