Asia Regional Integration Center

GDP growth slowed from 6.8% in FY2017 to 6.2% year-on-year during the transitional fiscal year (TFY) 2018—from 1 April 2018 to 30 September 2018—due to weaker domestic demand and slower investments. Domestic investment was sluggish, due to slower disbursement of government expenditure, weaker investor sentiment, and a decline in FDI approvals. The current account deficit fell by more than half, from the equivalent of 4.7% of GDP in FY2017 to 2.0% in TFY2018. Growth is forecast to rise to 6.6% in FY2019 (the full year ending 30 September 2019) and 6.8% in FY2020. A weakening external environment may hurt export prospects, but domestic and foreign investment should improve in response to the opening up of FDI in retail and wholesale trade, and insurance.