INDIA ECONOMIC OUTLOOK: Fitch Ratings Agency  on May 9 affirmed India's sovereign rating at 'BBB-' with a stable outlook, on robust growth and resilient external finances, but said weak public finances remain a challenge.

India's rating has been unchanged at 'BBB-', which is the lowest investment grade, since August 2006. "Fitch Ratings has affirmed India's Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at 'BBB-' with a Stable Outlook," it said in a statement, adding strong growth potential is a key supporting factor for the sovereign rating. It forecasts India to be one of the fastest-growing sovereigns globally clocking 6 % growth in the current fiscal (April 2023-March 2024) supported by resilient investment prospects.

Fitch  estimates growth in the 2022-23 fiscal at 7% and 6.7% in 2024-25. "India's rating reflects strengths from a robust growth outlook compared with peers and resilient external finances, which have supported India in navigating the large external shocks over the past year. "These are offset by India's weak public finances, illustrated by high deficits and debt relative to peers, as well as lagging structural indicators, including World Bank governance indicators and GDP per capita," Fitch said. All the three global rating agency -- Fitch, S&P and Moody's -- have the lowest investment grade rating on India, with a stable outlook. The ratings are looked at by investors as a barometer of a country's credit worthiness and impacts borrowing cost.

India will face headwinds from elevated inflation, high interest rates and subdued global demand, along with fading pandemic-induced pent-up demand. Fitch said growth prospects have brightened as the private sector appears poised for stronger investment growth following the improvement of corporate and bank balance sheets in the past few years, supported by the government's infrastructure drive.

Still, risks remain given low labour force participation rates and an uneven reform implementation record. "India's large domestic market makes it an attractive destination for foreign firms. However, it is unclear whether India will be able to realise sufficient reforms to allow the economy to benefit substantially from opportunities offered by the deeper integration in global manufacturing supply chains, including China+1 corporate strategies that encourage diversification in investment destinations," Fitch said

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