Download the all-new Republic app:

Published 19:19 IST, October 4th 2019

India to see heavy foreign investment in next two years: Anurag Thakur

Anurag Thakur said that India would see heavy foreign investment in the next two years following the government's decision to cut corporate tax rates

Follow: Google News Icon
  • share
null | Image: self
Advertisement

India will see heavy foreign investment in the next two years following the government's decision to cut corporate tax rates, Union Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs Anurag Thakur said on Friday. "Modi government has taken a historic decision of cutting corporate tax which the previous Congress governments failed to do," Thakur said on the sidelines of a customer outreach programme (COP) organised by the State Bank of India (SBI).

READ | Investment Key To India Becoming USD 5-trillion Economy In 5 Years: CEA

Advertisement

Thakur on Corporate Tax cut and employment

Corporate tax rates have been cut so that India can become a destination for foreign firms for investment, he added. Expressing dismay over senior Congress leader Anand Sharma's statement that cut in corporate tax would benefit only big firms, Thakur said all the sections welcomed the rate cut and a number of foreign firms have promised to invest in India after it. The youth of the country will get employment with the foreign investment, he added. Earlier addressing the gathering at the function, Thakur said that the Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had given loans of Rs. 58 lakh crore from 2009-14. Subsequently, several businessmen who had been given huge loans fled the country, he added.

READ | PM Modi Meets The CEO Of Bank Of America, Makes Investment Push

Advertisement

On the other hand, the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government brought Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) and bad loans of Rs. 1,31,000 crore have been recovered so far since IBC came into effect in 2016, he said. Out of the 12 big cases of bad loans, seven have already been disposed of, he added. The minister also handed over loan sanctioning documents to beneficiaries.

"Only a single bank has given loans to about 500 people, other banks will also provide loans to several persons. Thousands of people will get loans in this COP. In this way, money will be circulated in the market which will help in overcoming the slump," he said.

Advertisement

READ | Sumant Sinha On Corporate Tax: 'A Concerted Move And A Positive Step'

Thakur on banks in Himachal Pradesh

The banks in Himachal Pradesh are holding COPs at five places — Shimla, Solan, Hamirpur, Mandi and Kullu district — from October 3 in the first phase following the directions of the Finance Ministry. Thakur said that the objective behind holding such programmes is to make people aware of the loan and other facilities being given to them by banks on behalf of the Central and State Governments. He informed that such fairs are being organised in as many as 450 districts of the country, which is a record. The Minister appealed to the people to make full use of the facilities being provided by the banks.

Advertisement

READ | Sinha Points Out Key Reasons For Economic Slowdown, Accuses Corporates

18:12 IST, October 4th 2019