News: 'Indian economic growth looks good this year'

(RTR 30/04/2006) Mumbai - Finance Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram said on Sunday he was bullish about the country's economic growth in the fiscal year ending March 2007.

"This year looks good to me. If investments pour in, there will be growth," Chidambaram told Indian television channel Headlines Today when asked about the economic growth prospect.

"We have to ensure that there are no financial imbalances, there are no surprises for investors. We have recently managed our finances well," he added.

India's economy, Asia's third-largest, is estimated to have expanded at 8.1 percent in the fiscal year which ended on March 31 and the government wants to accelerate the growth rate.

The central bank forecasts economic growth of 7.5-8 percent for the fiscal year ending in March 2007.