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Indian
Economy
Almost every
thing is big about India. India is the seventh largest and second
most populous country in the world. It has 16 % of the world's population
and 12 % of the world's arable land. It also is the fourth largest
economy based on GDP (PPP).
India has been
an active participant in World Trade from time immemorial. Indian
crafts, spices, jewelry and precious stones conquered Western countries
through land and sea routes for millennia. Home to oldest civilizations,
India has vibrant commercial activities going on as early as 2500
BC. Concepts as Entry Tax, Production Tax and Exports Tax were common
in the Indus Valley civilization (2500-1500 BC). India had been
a well sought after destination for trade and commerce. Ironically,
its richness also attracted the invaders in hordes.
After independence
in 1947, the Government of India chose the model of import substitution
and of a mixed economy guided by socialistic principles. Government
embarked upon creating first the industrial infrastructure power
plants, steel mills, ports etc. and later, around 1970s entered
into seemingly every commercial activity. Though, the private sector
was never annihilated completely, India's historical entrepreneurial
skills were somewhat throttled.
After following
inward looking economic policies for half a century, India embarked
upon economic reforms in 1991. The spirit of economic freedom is
now stirring in the country, bringing sweeping changes in its wake.
A series of ambitious economic reforms aimed at deregulating the
country and stimulating foreign investment has moved India firmly
into the front ranks of the rapidly growing Asia Pacific region
and unleashed the latent strengths of a complex and rapidly changing
nation. For over a decade, India has been one of the few countries
where the growth rate has been 6% or above and during the last couple
of years, second only to China.
The contradictions
have not yet been smoothened though; one third of population below
the poverty line and one third - almost the size of E.U. or US,
having the purchasing power as much as in these countries. Third
largest pool of trained manpower, blooming service sector and fairly
diversified industrial sector, yet 70 % of population still engaged
in agriculture.
Things are changing
for better, however, and fast. India's dynamic private sector accounts
for over 75% of its Gross Domestic Product and offers business opportunities
for everybody. Today, India is one of the most exciting emerging
markets in the world. Skilled managerial and technical manpower
that match the best available in the world and a huge middle provide
India with a distinct cutting edge in global competition.
Highlights:
--Very robust economy with inherent strengths and absence of economic
quicksands.
--Long history of stable parliamentary democracy.
--Independent judiciary, sophisticated legal and accounting system.
--India has third largest pool of engineers, technicians & skilled
manpower
-- Fairly mature
financial sector and dynamic capital market.
--Indian domestic market emerging as the second largest.
--Well developed agriculture &diversified industrial base already
existing.
--Liberalized policy framework with grater degree of openness.
--Un-exploited investment potential
A country of
billion people and a billion opportunities!
Important
Indicators
INDIA OVERVIEW General Facts
| Land
Area |
3.29
million square kilometers |
| Capital |
New
Delhi |
| Government |
Democratic,
Parliamentary |
| Political
System |
The
1950 Constitution provides for a parliamentary system of Government
with a bicameral parliament and three branches: the executive,
legislative, and judiciary. Federal structure with elected Governments
in States and in Union Territories |
| Population |
1,027
million (2001) |
| Population
Growth Rate |
2.14
percent |
| Population
Density |
324
persons/km2 |
| Life
Expectancy |
62
years, male; 64 years, female |
| Literacy
Rate |
65.38
percent |
| Languages
Spoken |
India
is a multilingual society with 18 principal languages. Hindi
is the language of a large percentage of people (38 percent),
while English is the preferred business language |
| Major
Religion |
Majority
are Hindus, though a significant number are Muslims, Christians,
Sikhs, Buddhists, etc. |
| International
airports |
New
Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Hyderabad
and Bangalore. |
| Major
Ports of Entry |
Calcutta,
Chennai, Kandla, Kochi, Mormugao, Mumbai, New Mangalore, Paradip,
Tuticorin and Vishakapatnam. |
| Climate |
Mainly
tropical with temperatures ranging from 10° 40°C in
most parts of the country |
| Time
Zone |
GMT
+5 1/2 hours |
| Currency
Unit |
Indian
Rupee |
ECONOMIC PROFILE |
| GDP
at current prices |
Rs
19,895 billion (2000-01) |
| Average
Real GDP Growth |
5.2
percent (2000-01) |
| Inflation
Rate measured by WPI |
6.6
percent (1999-2000) |
| Exchange
Rate |
Rs
45.51 /US$ (April-January, 2001) |
| Exports |
US$
44.1 billion (2000-2001) |
| Principal
Exports |
Traditional
exports include cotton yarn and textiles, ready-made garments,
leather goods, gems and jewellery and agricultural products.
However, cashewnuts, transport equipment, software, electronic
goods and manufactured metals constitute the most rapidly growing
export segments |
| Principal
Markets for export |
USA,
Canada, UK, Germany, Japan and Belgium in the OECD, Iran, Kuwait
and Saudi Arabia in the OPEC, Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Mexico
in the Latin American region and China, Hongkong, Singapore,
Thailand, Malaysia and Sri Lanka in the Asian region |
Foreign Investment
Investing
in India
Foreign
Investment Policy
Dis-investment
Policy
Other resources
Overview
of Indian economy
RBI
India's
Macro Econom
Ministry
of External Affairs
Country
Commercial Report (US)
Investing Opportunities
More
www.indiainfoline.com
www.bisnetworld.net
www.cmie.com
www.tradepartners.gov.uk
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