Boundary row’s impact on Sino-Indian trade not more than marginal: Jaitley

The differences between India and China on boundary issue and other matters may have "some marginal effect" on bilateral trade but businesses between the two sides have been expanding, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Friday.

"Economic relationship normally moves independently. Because trade will depend on terms of trade. These factors could have some marginal effect," said Jaitley, who is here on a five-day visit to pitch for more Chinese investments in India's infrastructure sector.

Asked about the impact of Sino-India differences, specially in the backdrop of the boundary dispute, he said, "If at all it is marginal. You are not at a stage countries have stopped dealing with each other businesses. Issues are there. Issues will be resolved. The boundary issue has existed for decades. Our business expanded notwithstanding." 

About ballooning trade deficit which amounted to about $48 billion last year in over $70 billion bilateral trade, Jaitley said, "it can only be bridged by improving upon your trade".

"Otherwise those who are in a position to become global suppliers also has to work on their own costing," he said. About India pressing China to provide market access to IT and Pharmaceuticals, he said, "the market issues between the two countries are real. These issues are discussed time to time." On the the flow of Chinese investments into India, Jaitley said investments in rural and public sectors have to government investments. But two areas private investment is always welcome are, infrastructure and manufacturing. "These two areas we prefer lot of private investment which will come from where ever it is available," he said. Some corporations have large investable surpluses. Therefore, investment do come into manufacture and infrastructure, he said.

"As a rule they are welcomed unless there is some other issue. In terms of investments it could always be more," he said. On the feasibility study for Delhi-Chennai bullet train corridor, he said study is there but it has not come to me yet.

Jaitley, who addressed an Investors Forum meet here today attended by officials of the top Chinese firms will take part in the Board of Governors meeting of the China sponsored Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) tomorrow. India is the second largest shareholder in the bank after China.

Making a strong pitch for Chinese investments in India’s expanding infrastructure sector, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday said India will be the only economy in the world which is poised to grow at 7.5 to 8 per cent in an “unsupportive global environment”. Addressing ‘Invest in India’ Business Forum here, Jaitley said “in the immediate future we will certainly maintain the growth rates which we have”.

“Hopefully if there is good monsoon this year, which is expected to be, we have a potential to improve upon those growth rates. Even in an unsupportive global environment we probably would be only economy which moves up towards 7.5 per cent and more towards the eight per cent growth rate,” he said referring to the IMF downgrading global economic growth. 

“In a supportive global environment if things change for the better I do not know what the rate itself would be. But I am assuming that the global environment would remain the same,” he said laying out a detailed roadmap for massive development of rural and urban infrastructure across India.