GST and digitised economies are the future of India: Jaitley

Union finance minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday said that his ministry will do its best to support the steps announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the New Year’s eve.

“I see 2017 as a year whose agenda was set by the Prime Minister last night. Cheaper loans for affordable housing, for women’s health, agriculture sector and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector... is the future of India,” Jaitley told the media in New Delhi.

Jaitley said he envisions 2017 as a year where digitisation along with Goods and Services Tax (GST) will play an important role for the growth of the economy.

“I see 2017 as a year where a combination of GST and digitised economies are the future of India... which will lay down the footsteps for the growth of the country.”

The minister also lauded the demonetisation move as very instrumental in distributing the resources more equitably.

“Resources which were hitherto centred in the hands of few in the form of black money are being distributed now,” he said.