CII pegs GDP growth at 8% for 2016-17

CII is optimistic about the industry outlook for the year 2016-17, based on its research and initiatives by the government as well as expectations of a normal monsoon, GDP growth rate for 2016-17 could touch 8%, higher than the government’s projection. This is based on expected higher agricultural growth on a low base after two successive years of drought.

CII’s theme for 2016-17 is ‘Building National Competitiveness’. This covers the areas of human development, ease of doing business, corporate integrity and good citizenship, innovation and technical capability, sustainability, and global integration. CII has launched the CII Model Code of Conduct and Code of Good Corporate Citizenship to guide members on ethical business for improving Corporate Integrity and Good Citizenship, he announced.

“CII will launch WATSCAN, an advanced tool for Water Resources Evaluation and Management at watershed level… CII will apply WATSCAN in 50 districts in 10 drought-prone states over the next five years” – Dr.Naushad Forbes

Newly elected CII President Dr.Naushad Forbes stressed that legislative reforms for introducing Goods and Services (GST) and Bankruptcy law must be quickly passed.

Speaking about new CII initiatives in the six areas, Dr Forbes said that CII’s new Startup Center of Excellence is being set up with partnership from Tel Aviv University, Harvard University and TiE Silicon Valley. CII is also working on Waste to Worth under the Swachh Bharat initiative for solid waste management in ten cities. Under Standup India, CII will escalate work on Affirmative Action with Dalit Chamber of Commerce and Industry on education and vendor opportunities.