India: To help small firms, India seen unveiling second coronavirus stimulus worth USD13bn

  • A second stimulus package India is poised to announce in coming days will be worth around INR1tr and focus on help for small and medium businesses weathering the coronavirus outbreak, two senior officials said.
  • In Mar 20, India outlined a INR1.7tr economic stimulus plan providing direct cash transfers and food security measures to give relief to millions of poor hit by an ongoing 21-day nationwide lockdown.
  • “The second package could be focused largely on MSMEs,” one of the senior government officials, with direct knowledge of the plan told Reuters, using an acronym for micro, small and medium enterprises.
  • The official said a separate package could be announced for bigger companies after assessing the extent of the hit they have faced due to the lockdown imposed to fight the outbreak.
  • Small businesses account for nearly one-quarter of India’s USD2.9tr economy and employ more than 500 million workers, according to government estimates.
  • India has so far recorded 5,274 cases of the coronavirus, which has also killed 149 people in the country. The country is now considering narrowing its lockdown to coronavirus hotspots after the nationwide lockdown ends on 14 Apr 20.
  • The new package aimed at MSMEs could include increases in the limits of bank loans for working capital needs, hiking threshold limits for availing tax exemptions and relaxing rules for deposits of income tax and other dues, the sources said.
  • The second government source said that the government was also planning to partially clear tax refunds owed to small businesses within one month to provide some immediate relief.
  • The Indian government said it will also release INR180bn in tax refunds to small businesses and individuals immediately and impose expenditure curbs on a host of departments for 2Q20.
  • Federal and state governments and state-owned companies owe more than USD66bn to small businesses, the government told parliament in Mar 20.

External Link : https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-india-stimulus-exc/exclusive-second-india-coronavirus-stimulus-to-focus-on-aid-to-small-business-idUSKBN21Q28C

8-Apr-2020