‘Rupee has been more resilient than other currencies in recent yrs’

LOS ANGELES: Indian rupee has shown more resilience than most of the other currencies in recent years and the compounded average growth rate of depreciation is lower as compared to pre-2014, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal has said.

He also said exporters should not be dependent on a depreciating rupee and they should stand on their own based on the quality of products and ability to serve the needs of customers in the global markets.

“I do not think there is any comfortable or uncomfortable level for the rupee. Rupee finds its own place. It’s a function of several natural factors - a function of inflation, capital flows and the risk-reward ratio in each country. I am happy that the Indian rupee has shown more resilience than most of the currencies in recent years,” Goyal said in a media interaction.

To a query on what could be the comfortable level of the rupee where it does not hurt imports, and make exports competitive, the minister said: “If you look at the Indian rupee solely before 2014, and if you took a CAGR (Compounded Annual Growth Rate) of the rupee depreciation, it was in the range of about 3.25-3.5 per cent. Currently, the Indian rupee is depreciating at about 2.5 per cent CAGR, so there has been a significant improvement in the strength of the Indian rupee.”

The Indian rupee was trading at Rs 79.67 to a US dollar in early trade on Monday.

When asked about the European Union’s plan to withdraw export benefits under the Generalised Tariff Preference Scheme (GSP), Goyal expressed confidence that Indian exporters will be able to supply significantly on the basis of their strength.

India’s exports from sectors such as plastics, stone, machinery and mechanical appliances worth about $8 billion to the EU would not be eligible for low- or zero-duty concessions from January 2023 after removal of GSP benefits by the EU.

“We are undertaking free trade agreement negotiations with them (EU). We will focus on that negotiation. I don’t think GSP is necessary for expanding trade engagement in any case. It’s better to have a FTA with the EU. Without GSP (with the US), our exports have not suffered,” he added.

On further expanding trade with the US, the commerce minister said every sector in America is an opportunity for Indian businesses, given the size and scale of the US market.

The US is a big player in international trade, given the fact that they are looking for massive expansion on technology, he said, adding, “the sky’s the limit”. “The potential in the US is to increase our trade from the current $159 billion to at least $500 billion in the next six to eight years,” he added.

Further replying to how Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) would help India narrow the widening trade deficit, Goyal said each pact will help India grow trade with all its partner countries.