India's surging public sector company stocks have created a significant pool of capital that the government can now leverage as a seed fund to drive innovation, support new ventures, and fuel economic growth. This valuable resource presents a unique opportunity for the country to capitalize on the transformation of its state-owned enterprises.
The Narendra Modi government's track record with investors has at least one area where outcomes fell short of expectations - the privatization of state-owned companies during his decade-long tenure.
In hindsight, this may turn out to be a blessing for the next administration, if they are keen to seize the opportunity.
The recent rally in the stock prices of state-owned enterprises has opened up a new avenue for the government to modernize how it manages these businesses. This presents an opportunity to leverage their performance for further innovation and to drive economic growth.
Companies that were once considered unattractive for equity investors, such as NTPC, State Bank of India and Indian Oil, have now outperformed their listed peers. The Nifty PSE Index, which tracks these state-owned firms, has surged 326% in the last three years, outpacing the broader Nifty index's 142% gain.
This market performance reflects the operational transformation these companies have undergone, after years of struggles due to factors beyond management control. For instance, the government had to invest over ₹3 lakh crore to recapitalize state-owned banks and ensure their survival.
A combination of factors, including infrastructure investments, the 'Atmanirbhar' (self-reliance) initiative, Production Linked Incentives (PLI), and reduced government interference, may have contributed to their turnaround.
The revenues of these state-owned enterprises have risen 84% in the last decade to ₹37.9 lakh crore, and their net profits have climbed 87% to ₹2.41 lakh crore, according to the Finance Minister.
Investors have enthusiastically welcomed this transformation, as these companies have shifted from being capital guzzlers to profit generators. Their combined market value has reached ₹61 lakh crore (or $734 billion) by the end of the last fiscal year.
This represents a full circle for these companies - from commanding heights of the economy, to crumbling edifices due to political interference, and now back in the reckoning.
The next government has an opportunity to capitalize on these gains and harness them for the benefit of future generations. One potential solution is to emulate Singapore's example and create a Sovereign Wealth Fund.
In 1974, Singapore transferred ownership of 35 companies to Temasek, which has grown into a giant investment arm with nearly $300 billion in assets worldwide, including in India.
India's state-owned companies currently have a combined market value of $734 billion, more than double the size of Temasek's assets under management. By creating a similar Sovereign Wealth Fund, India could unlock several benefits:
1. The income from dividends and partial stake sales could help fund government investments in new ventures, including start-ups, which is currently lacking.
2. It would shield taxpayers from future capital demands of struggling state-owned enterprises, as the fund's board would manage these decisions.
3. It could provide greater autonomy for these companies, insulating them from bureaucratic interference in business decisions.
As a country that boasts of being a land of investment opportunities for the global community, India has the potential to create a Sovereign Wealth Fund that would be more than double the size of Temasek, and use it to nurture new ventures. This could be a transformative step for the Indian economy.
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