Euro crisis to hit India exports: IMF

Having already seen its effects on private investment, any further deterioration in the economic situation of Europe has the potential to hit the Indian economy, including a drop in exports, an International Monetary Fund (IMF) official has said.

"I think it is also clear that in India, as in other economies, demand for exports would certainly be hit, and certainly for India, we've already seen effects on private investment," IMF Director (Asia and Pacific Department) Anoop Singh said on the downside risks for India if the European situation deteriorates.

"My sense so far is that the financial effects on Asia are being contained. We are seeing Asian banks, including Indian banks, stepping in where deleveraging is taking place from European banks," Singh told reporters early this week.

"So far, my sense is that there is increase in funding costs, yes, for India and other countries. But supplies are generally being maintained in key areas," he added.

Noting that it is clearly the objective of the Indian authorities to cut India's fiscal deficit, Singh said it is clear that a smaller deficit would reduce the government's demands on savings, allowing more lending to take place to the private section.

"I think it is a clear objective in India to bring the fiscal deficit down as part of its fiscal consolidation," he said in response to a question.

In India, as well as in many other countries in Asia the priority comes to raising private investment, but this requires also greater infrastructure investment as part of the process of raising potential growth.