RBI welcomes GOI's PSBs recapitalization plan
RBI welcomes PSBs recapitalization plan*
RBI welcomes bank recapitalization
plan A well-capitalized banking, and in general, financial intermediation,
system is a pre-requisite for stable economic growth. Economic history has
shown us repeatedly that it is only healthy banks that lend to healthy firms
and borrowers, creating a virtuous cycle of investment and job creation. The
Government of India’s decisive package to restore the health of the Indian
banking system is in the view of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), a monumental
step forward in safeguarding the country’s economic future. For the first time
in last decade, we now have a real chance that all the policy pieces of the
jigsaw puzzle will be in place for a comprehensive and coherent, rather than
piece-meal, strategy to address the banking sector challenges. It bodes us well
that this step has been taken in a time of sound macroeconomic conditions for
the economy on other fronts. The proposed recapitalisation package for the
banking sector combines several desirable features. First, by deploying
recapitalisation bonds, it will front-load capital injections while staggering
the attendant fiscal implications over a period of time. As such, the
recapitalisation bonds will be liquidity neutral for the government except for
the interest expense that will contribute to the annual fiscal deficit numbers.
Second, it will involve participation of private shareholders of public sector
banks by requiring that parts of the capital needs be met by market funding.
Last but not the least, it will allow for a calibrated approach whereby banks
that have better addressed their balance-sheet issues and are in a position to
use fresh capital injection for immediate credit creation can be given priority
while others shape up to be in a similar position. This provides for a good way
of bringing some market discipline into a public recapitalisation program
compared to the past recapitalisation programs. Financial sector policies
should support growth while maintaining financial stability. On behalf of the
Reserve Bank of India, I commend the government on its bold steps in this
direction, starting with implementation of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code
that is helping resolve the underlying corporate stress, and culminating in
yesterday’s announcement of the public sector bank recapitalisation program.
The RBI looks forward to working with the Government to ensuring these plans
reach their natural completion to the benefit of the broader Indian economy.
(Urjit R. Patel)
Governor
*Source:
RBI Website
Comments