ET Awards: India is still the fastest-growing major economy, says Vineet Jain

The Narendra Modi government, in its second innings, has retained its focus on development and reforms despite the slowdown, said Vineet jain, Times Group MD.

“It has been a momentous year. PM Modi and our chief guest, home minister Amit Shah, in his avatar as party president, led the BJP-helmed NDA coalition to a resounding victory in the general elections,” he said. “Their margin of victory was huge... enough to fire up markets with confidence that the government would not slack on reforms.”

While global issues like the US-China trade war and fears of a recession in Europe have cast a shadow over the bright prospects in India, the country is still the fastest-growing major economy in the world, with GDP growth projected at 6.1%, he said at the ET Awards for Corporate Excellence in Mumbai.


He paid tribute to two political titans that India lost during the year. “This year has also unfortunately seen the untimely death of two political titans — former finance minister and the architect of key reforms, Arun Jaitley and former external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj.”

Jain said he expects the government to continue its reforms and clear any doubts people had on that front. Home minister Amit Shah had taken a milestone decision in Jammu and Kashmir, he said. “Tonight, we look forward to his vision for the country’s growth path and his views on other issues of national importance.” He also welcomed finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and railways and commerce minister Piyush Goyal.

“To explain how the government is living up to its promise of sabka saath, sabka vikas and sabka vishwas… we are delighted to have with us the two ministers who manage most key economic portfolios,” he said.