8 February 2012
P
olicy
M
aker
Insights from bureaucrats
the
Enter the PMO: Emerging like a phoenix
Its initiatives to kick-start economic engine has many beneficiaries
After a long period of hiatus during which the Government was widely criticized for policy inaction
while opposition and coalition politics too were blamed for stalling key reforms, government
seems to have tightened its belt to streamline the decision making process. The mechanism of
Prime Minister's Office (PMO) as the key authority has entered the policy-making scene to signal
progress in several economic initiatives, including dealing with contentious economic matters
involving several ministries. We believe that the PMO assuming a central role assumes great
significance in the current stalemate, but execution still remains the key challenge.
Swinging into action mode, time-bound plan to address critical issues
The big-bang New Year entry of the PMO on the policy making scene has been
a positive surprise. January 2012 has been a power-packed month for the PMO;
its actions have caused the business environment to turn from negative to
cautiously optimistic:
The PM himself called on industry leaders not to be drawn into the negative
atmosphere and expressed his commitment to the reform agenda.
Sector specific agenda has also been taken up, most notably power, where
a time-bound action plan has been promised. The progress since the initial
meeting with the CEOs has been impressive.
A tight monitoring system to track investment plans of cash rich PSUs has
been adopted, with FY13 spending target at INR1.8t (double the highest
ever in FY11 at INR931b).
The PMO seeks to give a thrust to skill development during the Twelfth
Five-Year Plan (FY13-17). Also necessary agencies are created for promotion
of tourism, de-regulation of sugar and development of inland waterways
transport.
India's PMO has a sound track
record of getting things done
PM Narasimha Rao (1991-1996)
Involvement of PMO:
Involved in every
important decision-
making panel,
including its
economic policy
agenda
PM AB Vajpayee (1996, 1998-2004)
Involvement of PMO:
Steered several
high impact
schemes like
national highways
and telecom;
including foreign affairs
PM Manmohan Singh (2004 to date)
Involvement of PMO:
Currently pushing
for progress on
various issues,
including
contentious
economic matters involving
several ministries (e.g. power
sector logjam)
Impact
#1 Cash-rich PSUs may revive investment activity (see
page 2)
#2 Power sector imbroglio could get significantly resolved (see
page 4)
Our view
While PMO swinging into action is a positive in instilling a sense of control at
the top, the current situation would warrant visible action delivered through
such organizational restructuring. Several beaten down stocks and sectors like
PSU Banks, Capital Goods, Power Generators, Infrastructure, etc have responded
quite favorably to the changing dynamics. While this could possibly be a
harbinger of events to be expected, execution needs to be demonstrated.
Key potential beneficiaries of PMO intervention
Power Generators | Coal Miners | Financials | Capital Goods | Infrastructure
Satyam Agarwal
(Agarwals@MotilalOswal.com); +91 22 3982 5410
Sandipan Pal
(Sandipan.Pal@MotilalOswal.com) /
Dipankar Mitra
(Dipankar.Mitra@MotilalOswal.com)