India’s biz optimism slides to 4-year low, but positive: Study

New Delhi, Dec. 26: Business leaders in India remained largely positive, but their level of optimism has dropped to its lowest level in four years even as it has hit a twoyear high in the AsiaPacific, says a report.

According to the latest Grant Thornton’s report, Asia Pacific business optimism has hit a 2-year high, largely driven by improvements from its two biggest economies, China and Japan, and region-wide positivity on prospects for increased trade.

However, not all trajectories are heading upwards, the report stated, adding that India’s optimism mostly remained positive at 75 per cent, but “has dropped to its lowest level in four years”.

Australia and New Zealand are on the same boat too, as optimism in Australia dropped to 58 per cent from 75 per cent a year ago and New Zealand’s is down to 68 per cent, the lowest in two years.

“In the last 12 months, businesses in India have had to deal with the impact of radical reforms such as demonetisation, country-wide consolidated indirect tax and a new bankruptcy regime,” said Vishesh C. Chandiok, managing partner of Grant Thornton India.

Mr Chandiok, however, added that “with the largest gain of any country in the 'World Bank ease of doing business ranking' and favourable macro-economic conditions, India remains one of the few bright spots in the global economy”.

Grant Thornton’s International Business Report showed that India’s businesses are the most positive in the region when it comes to the opportunity presented by increasing spending power of the rising middle class.

The biggest threat to the region cited is the trend of ageing populations, followed by regional conflict regarding competing territorial claims and the rebalancing of China's economy. — PTI