
Propelled by foreign investment inflows, India8217;s foreign exchange reserves grew by 36.8 billion for the year ended March 31, 2004, over a rise of 21.3 billion in 2002-03.
The capital account net comprising foreign investment, banking capital, short term credit, external commercial borrowings and other items recorded a rise of 22.7 billion 12.8 bn in FY-03, according to the data released by Reserve Bank of India here today. The current account balance and valuation change contributed 8.7 billion 4.1 bn and 5.4 billion 4.4 billion respectively, it said.
The major sources of accretion to forex reserves during April 2003-March 2004 were foreign investment 39.4 per cent, comprising foreign direct investment 8.5 per cent and portfolio investment 30.8 per cent.
Foreign investment inflows rose by 14.5 billion 4.6. However, net inflows under banking capital were up by 6.2 billion 8.4 bn while non-resident Indian deposits rose by 3.6 billion 3.0 bn.
Short term credit at 1.6 billion USD one bn and other items in capital account at five billion USD 3.6 bn were other sources of accretion. External commercial borrowings, however, contracted by 1.9 billion 2.3 billion, RBI added. India8217;s foreign exchange reserves as on June 18 stood at 119.93 billion.