Achieving double digit growth in current global environment extremely difficult: FM Jaitley

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday said that in the current global environment, achieving double digit growth is extremely difficult.

"In the current global environment, realistically speaking, it is extremely difficult to achieve double digit growth," Jaitley told the opening session of India Today Conclave here. But he said it was important to aim higher and continue with reforms to get the desired results.

The Finance Minister said agriculture has the maximum potential to grow in India.  "Some of the states have seen huge amount of growth in agriculture."

As regards reforms, he specifically listed the proposed pan-India goods and services tax (GST) regime right upfront and said that it would be difficult to accept the opposition Congress party`s demand to cap goods and services tax (GST) rate in a constitution amendment bill stuck in parliament.

"Some of the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) partners told me they will support GST," he said, adding: "I would still like the Congress to come on board."

With Agency Inputs