FM lauds RBI steps, says more measures could be on anvil

Here is a verbatim transcript of Finance Minister P Chidambaram's speech on CNBC-TV18. Also watch the accompanying video.

I met you last Wednesday after the Cabinet meeting and since then, there have been a number of developments both in other countries of the world and in India. I thought it would be appropriate to make a statement today.

These are times of uncertainty, yet even during times of uncertainty, there are some facts that cannot be and ought not to be ignored. The Indian economy continues to grow at a satisfactory rate. As recently as last week, the IMF's research department Mr Oliver Blanchard noted that, 'The Indian economy would continue to do well despite the global liquidity crunch.' As per projections made by the IMF, India is expected to post a GDP growth of 7.9% during the current fiscal year.

The stock market Indices are important indicators but they are not the only indicators of the health of the Indian economy. The ratio of investment to GDP remains high at over 35% at the end of Q1 of 2008-09. The monsoon has been normal. The Kharif crop especially rice and cotton has been good, farmers are sowing their fields and the prospects for the Rabi crop are bright. Factories continue to produce goods and the services sector is growing at a brisk rate.

Crude oil and commodity prices have declined sharply and this is expected to have a beneficial effect on inflation. The root cause for the present uncertainty is liquidity and not any dramatic change in the fundamentals of the economy. According to RBI figures, as on 26 September 2008, non-food credit increased year-on-year by 24.8%. Between April and 26 September 2008, non-food credit grew by 7.8%. Time and demand deposits with banks grew year on year by 18.8% and between April and 26 September 2008 by 7.2%. I am happy that depositors continue to repose their confidence in the health of our banking system.

Nevertheless, liquidity was found to be inadequate and consequently lenders were unwilling to take risk. Some lenders and investors faced redemption pressures leading to a sale of assets especially stocks. The markets that are bearing the brunt of the problem are the capital market and the money market and to an extent the foreign-exchange market. These problems can be overcome if adequate liquidity is infused into the system.

Accordingly, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has taken measures that have infused an additional Rs 60,000 crore into the financial system. The liquidity-adjustment facility (LAF) also provides liquidity and as on 10 October 2008, Rs 91,500 crore has been accessed by banks through the LAF window. We believe that these steps should ease the liquidity situation and the flow of credit should become smoother relieving the pressures that had built up in the last two weeks.

The Government, RBI and Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) have been in close consultation of each other during the weekend. I had spoken to the Governor of RBI and Chairman of SEBI several times in the last two days. We are coordinating our actions. We are watching the situation carefully and we will respond swiftly according to the needs of the situation. We are working on more measures that will infuse liquidity, make credit intermediation smoother and increase the confidence of depositors and investors. We hope to be able to announce them shortly. Our banks are ready and willing to provide credit, suitable advisories are being issued to the banks.

Over the weekend, the US, UK, Euro Zone and Australian authorities have announced a number of measures to stabilize the financial system. The Australian capital market and three of the East-Asian capital markets have opened on a bright note this morning. I expect that our capital market will also take its cue from these positive developments. We must remain confident and respond to the situation in a cool and mature manner.

We must banish fear; especially depositors have nothing to fear because their deposits in banks are safe. Investors must take informed decisions. Before you sell; you must remember that for every seller there is a buyer. You must ask yourself why the buyer is buying in these times of perceived uncertainty and therefore ask yourself the further question whether there is a need to act in haste or in panic. In my view, there is no reason at all to act in haste or give room for panic. If all the players in the economy remain confident and take informed decisions, I have no doubt that the Indian economy will weather the current storm and emerge stronger. If necessary, I shall make a further statement later today.