“Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s Budget 2021 statement attempts to put a medium to long term foundation to the emergency measures undertaken by the government in the first nine months of the pandemic. By all measures, the government has done a fine job at reviving the growth impulses in the economy.
This Budget, therefore, attempts to reinforce the health, physical and financial infrastructure so that the economy is never ever caught in a similar situation.
What is also truly radical is that the governments has outlined a vision of increasing its focus on strategic investments and monetising government assets at the right time.”
Mr. Prashant Ruia, Director, Essar Capital
This is a ‘spend big’ budget with clear focus on banking and infrastructure sector which is exactly what the economy needed and in sectors that required it. Especially the manner in which the FM has sought to clean up the balance sheet of banks by creating a bad bank for stressed assets. This will certainly give banks the elbowroom they need to start lending aided by the proposed Development Finance Institution with ₹ 20,000 cr capital. All these initiatives will spur corporate investments. With this comprehensive approach, the FM has reset the economy for a V shaped recovery.
Sanjay Palve, Senior Managing Director, Essar Capital
The Budget 2021 is extremely positive driving the country towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat by laying huge stress on health care, infrastructure, banking and insurance, textile and agriculture that will aid the country not only towards economic revival but also spur growth. The infrastructure spending is going up by 34% through NIP and a welcome focus on boost in road and railway infrastructure with new economic corridors planned will certainly help the growth of the logistics sector and will lead to enhancing trade in the country.
The announcement of the launch of the National Asset Monetisation Pipeline which will include transmission lines of power grid, oil and gas pipelines, airports, toll roads etc will be a game changer. Government’s increased focus on the infrastructure sector will certainly bring in positive measures for the holistic growth of the logistics and maritime sector. No new tax is a very big positive in these times.
This budget is worthy of upgrading India to AAA considering that we are one of the strongest economy and have shown the revival and resilience in most difficult conditions.
Rajiv Agarwal, MD & CEO, Essar Ports
“We would like to thank the government for giving due emphasis to the Power sector in this year’s Budget 2021. In a highly anticipated move our Honourable FM announced a ₹ 3,05,984 crore scheme to reform the power distribution sector in the country. T&D losses have plagued the Power sector for a number of years and this scheme will surely help reduce losses and improve efficiency of electricity distribution companies (discoms). The proposed amendments and Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2021 with measures such as ‘de-licensing’ of the power distribution business to bring in competition is a very consumer centric move which aims at creating a level playing field for all distribution companies. The ₹ 1,000 crore grant for the growth of the Solar Energy sector and ₹ 1,500 crore to the Renewable Energy sector is also a welcome move and will help the country in achieving the ambitious target of 175 GW of renewable energy capacity by the year 2022. These measures and reforms will definitely help improve the health of the sector and enhance growth in the coming few years.”
Kush S, CEO, Essar Power
“The Union Budget 2021 brings a positive sentiment to the overall economy with focus on nation’s growth. The budget laid focus on clean air and environment by expanding the City Gas Distribution (CGD) network to 100 more districts as well as extending the Ujjwala scheme to one crore more beneficiaries.
The launch of a National Hydrogen Mission in 2021-22 for generating Hydrogen from green power sources is also a forward looking and remarkable step. These are surely optimistic moves that will gradually put India ahead of its peers towards its commitment to address issues of climate change and building a clean fuel gas-based economy.”
Santosh Chandra, CEO, EOGEPL
FM has announced a new scheme to be launched for flagging of merchant ships in India by providing subsidy support to Indian Ship owners. Fund allocation is ₹ 1624 crore to be provided over 5 years. This will give boost to Indian ship owners in acquiring ships to service tenders floated by Ministries, resulting in increase of Indian flag ships. With increase in fleet, more job opportunities will be created.
Job creation has been one of the foremost agenda under the Budget, FM announced Indian ship recycling has acceded to Hong Kong Convention. Most of the recycling yards are now compliant to new convention. By 2024 the capacity of the yards will be doubled, leading to creation of skilled and unskilled jobs.
SCI privatisation as part of the disinvestment scheme of the government of its CPSE units is likely to bring more efficiency & the improvisation in business & operations from India. The privatisation will bring in foreign investments that will have an overall improved impact in the Indian shipping industry.
Under the AatmaNirbhar Bharat programme, renewed trade flows will come into existence with reduced dependence on China.
Capt Rahul Bhargava, COO, Essar Shipping Ltd