FIEO Complains to Rupee Appreciation, Asks for Forex Management to keep Rate at Rs. 70 to the Dollar

[FIEO Press Release dated 18^th March 2019]

Turnaround in political sentiments, FPI flows coupled with the expected large inflows from rights issues and the merger and acquisition deals, reduced geo-political tensions, stabilisation in oil prices have driven the rupee appreciation to a 9-months high said Mr Ganesh Kumar Gupta, President, FIEO, and the rupee could stay strong, as the flows continue.

The RBIs decision for a currency swap to infuse rupee liquidity is expected to bring down hedging cost, prompting inflows in the short end of the corporate debt thus augmenting the supply observed FIEO Chief.

Such sharp appreciation is causing concern both amongst the exporters as well as importers as uncertainty in the exchange rate is driving volatility. Exporters who have contracted at Rs 74 to a Dollar but could not hedge it, due to non -availability of limit by the banks, tend to incur huge losses. Similarly those who imported at Rs 74 to Dollar for exports few months back, will now get Rs 68-69 upon exports resulting in setback to them said Mr Gupta.

This is a new and additional challenge faced by the exporters who are struggling with contraction in global demand, liquidity challenge at the domestic turf and fierce competition from other competing currencies said Mr Gupta. The informal withdrawal of MEIS to apparel and made-ups have also jolted their exports. He urged that while pegging is not possible, extreme volatilities should be managed through interventions so that the exchange rate continues to provide requisite competitiveness to Indian exports since Rupee is nowhere near its real effective exchange rate.

President, FIEO said that in the given situation, Rupee is set to appreciate further giving a jolt to our export efforts and therefore, it should be ensured that Rupee remains near 70 to a dollar.