India's credit worthiness stable compared to negative outlook for the world, says Moody's

The credit worthiness outlook for countries in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, including that of India, for 2023 is stable as compared to the negative outlook for sovereigns globally, Moody's Investors Service said on Monday.

The debt sustainability and financial stability are relatively well anchored in the region, with contained government liquidity risks, broadly stable debt dynamics and generally sound external positions, the credit rating agency said in a report.

Gross domestic product (GDP) growth will stabilise close to potential levels and outperform other regions, despite higher global inflation and tighter financial conditions, it said, while adding that most sovereigns have begun fiscal consolidation, but social pressures are slowing progress.


Moody's expects output gaps to continue for India, which is in post-pandemic recovery mode.

The debt affordability has been anchored in India, Malaysia and Thailand as they have a large institutional investor base and banking systems, IANS cited from the rating agency's report.

According to the report, elevated commodities prices will keep spending on food and fuel subsidies or other measures high, with little impetus to reduce support, particularly for economies with elections approaching in 2023 or early 2024, including Bangladesh and India.

The fiscal deficits for most governments in the region are likely to be equivalent to or near their debt-stabilising fiscal balance. Debt burdens will continue to rise, or stabilise at higher levels in countries such as India and Malaysia, Moody's said.

The rating agency said debt affordability will fall from generally robust levels as interest rates rise and will be manageable for most in the region.

Key risks relate to weaker economic growth for longer in China; acute credit strains for lower-rated frontier markets that will continue to face heightened liquidity and currency depreciation pressures; and domestic politics and geopolitics.

(with inputs from IANS)