Pramod Thomas is a senior correspondent with Asian Media Group since 2020, bringing 19 years of journalism experience across business, politics, sports, communities, and international relations. His career spans both traditional and digital media platforms, with eight years specifically focused on digital journalism. This blend of experience positions him well to navigate the evolving media landscape and deliver content across various formats. He has worked with national and international media organisations, giving him a broad perspective on global news trends and reporting standards.
INDIA boosted healthcare spending by 135 per cent and lifted caps on foreign investment in its vast insurance market on Monday(1) to help revive an economy that suffered its deepest recorded slump as a result of the pandemic.
Delivering a budget statement to parliament, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman projected a fiscal deficit of 6.8 per cent of gross domestic product for 2021/22, higher than the 5.5 per cent forecast by a recent Reuters poll of economists.
The current year was expected to end with a deficit of 9.5 per cent, she said, well up from the 7 per cent expected earlier.
Prime minister Narendra Modi said the budget was aimed at creating 'wealth and wellness' in a country that is battling the world's second highest coronavirus caseload after the US.
India currently spends about 1 per cent of GDP on health, among the lowest for any major economy.
Sitharaman proposed increasing healthcare spending to Rs 2.2 trillion ($30.2 billion) to help improve public health systems and fund a huge vaccination drive to immunise 1.3 billion people.
"All of us decided to give impetus to the economy and that impetus, we thought, would be qualitatively spent and give necessary demand push if we choose to spend big on infrastructure," Sitharaman told reporters after the presentation of the budget in parliament.
Unlike other countries, India refrained from announcing a big stimulus, offering greater liquidity to firms instead, and held off using its fiscal firepower until curbs to contain the virus were lifted.
The government estimates the economy will contract 7.7 per cent in the current fiscal year ending in March, in what would be the biggest fall ever recorded. However, it foresees a strong recovery in 2021/2022 with growth of 11 per cent.
That would make it the world's fastest growing major economy ahead of China's projected 8.1 per cent growth, but the government said it would take the economy two years to reach pre-pandemic levels.
"In a time of unprecedented economic stress, the government's responsibility was to spend enough to revive the economy or else face enormous human suffering," said Anand Mahindra, chairman of Mahindra group, an autos to technology conglomerate.
"So I had one expectation from this budget: that we should be very liberal in terms of the targeted fiscal deficit. Box ticked."
Markets surge
India's main stock indexes surged. The blue-chip NSE Nifty 50 index was 4.7 per cent higher in its best performance on budget day in at least two decades. The S&P BSE Sensex climbed 5 per cent.
But, bond yields jumped after the government announced plans to raise additional funds from the market over the next two months.
Sitharaman said the foreign direct investment (FDI) cap for the insurance sector would be increased to 74 per cent from the current 49 per cent.
To bridge some of the deficit, the government plans to sell its stake in the state run companies and banks including IDBI bank, an insurance company and oil companies. It also wants to sell state firms' surplus land.
Gene Fang, associate managing director, sovereign risk group, Moody's Investors Service, said the budget announcements did not change the credit rating agency's stance on India. Moody's rates Indian sovereign debt at 'Baa3' - the bottom rung of investment grade ratings - with a 'negative' outlook.
Mago Capital acquires the 145,000 square foot Notting Hill Gate Estate for £180million.
Prideview Group plays key role, completing £200million in London deals this year
Eastway Estates to back Mago Capital’s future property investments.
Prideview powers Mago’s expansion
Mago Capital has purchased the 145,000 square – foot Notting Hill Gate Estate in London for £180 million from Frogmore and Morgan Stanley. The purchase is part of its push to expand its £500 million Central London portfolio, through Prideview Group deal. The company has been actively buying premium properties across Central London.
For Prideview Group, this is another important achievement. The firm has completed over £200 million in Central London deals so far this year, becoming a significant player in the premium property market.
"We've always believed in the long-term value of prime London real estate, and this deal reinforces that," said Jesal Patel, Principal at Prideview Group. "We were able to move quickly with Mago Capital to secure an exceptional property in one of London's most iconic locations."
Ed de Stefano from Tydus Real Estate, told BE news, "The Notting Hill Estate provided a fantastic opportunity to acquire a 100 per cent prime, recently redeveloped, mixed-use estate, in one of central London's most affluent submarkets."
The deal involved several specialists including Tydus Real Estate, Freedman + Hilmi, and Brotherton, showing how complex such large property purchases can be. Prideview Group's investment arm, Eastway Estates, sits on Mago Capital's board and will support their future property acquisitions.
Looking forward, Prideview Group wants to manage £1 billion worth of property within the next 12 to 24 months. The firm is looking to work with investment funds, property agents, brokers, and other property companies to buy more assets.
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