Gadkari said, infrastructure sector including
highways, airports, inland waterways, railways, logistic parks, broad gauge and
metro, apart from MSMEs can attract large scale foreign investment.
India needs foreign direct investments worth Rs 50 to 60
lakh crore and the money can be tapped mainly through infrastructure projects
as well as MSME sector to accelerate the wheels of coronavirus-hit economy,
according to Union minister Nitin Gadkari.
Emphasising that at this juncture Foreign Direct
Investment (FDI) is the need of the hour, the senior minister said such funds
would benefit the country as there is a need for pumping in liquidity into the
market.
Economic activities have
been significantly disrupted in the wake of the pandemic and subsequent
lockdowns that were in place to curb spreading of infections.
"Country at this
juncture needs liquidity. Without liquidity our economy's wheel will not
accelerate... Rs 50-60 lakh crore foreign investment is needed in the country
under present circumstances to boost the economy," the Road Transport,
Highways and MSME Minister told PTI in an interview.
Infrastructure sector
including highways, airports, inland waterways, railways, logistic parks, broad
gauge and metro, apart from Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) can
attract large scale foreign investment, he noted.
"FDI in MSME,
Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) and banks are needed... in the highways
sector, we are trying to bring foreign investment," he said.
Gadkari further said that
talks are on with investors from Dubai and the US for various sectors,
including MSMEs.
"Some MSMEs are
already listed on the BSE. I have talked to investors in Dubai and the US to
come and invest in such MSMEs based on their three-year turnover, GST track
record, IT record and good rating. Investing in these can result in rich
dividends as these do exports also," he said.
"We need to boost our
technology for increasing growth and need to focus on enhancing exports.
“The prime minister's
thrust is also on reducing dependence on imports and boosting exports. In this
infrastructure can play a crucial role," he said.
While noting that the
present situation is very serious as the entire world is facing problems,
Gadkari stressed on the need to work on a war-footing basis on infrastructure
front.
Further, the minister noted
that public private partnerships can help harness huge funds and would have a
cascading impact by generating more employment and boosting the economy.
Besides, the minister said
that 22 green highways were being build, including the Rs 1 lakh crore
Delhi-Mumbai Expressway on a new alignment.
Citing the example of
Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, he said talks were on with the Maharashtra government
to shift about 1.5 lakh leather workers to Thane in a proposed leather cluster
along the highway which will have the most modern facilities including schools
and hospitals besides affordable housing under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
"The development of
backward area will alleviate poverty and accelerate development. Socio-economic
thought is behind this," he said.
The Centre has announced Rs
20 lakh crore economic stimulus package, including Rs 8.01 lakh crore of
liquidity measures announced by the Reserve Bank since March.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister
Narendra Modi announced that the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY),
a free ration scheme, would be extended for 80 crore people till the November
end.
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