Thiruvananthapuram: Speaking at a meet-the -press programme here yesterday, Finance Minister Jaswant Singh said, "The country will reach double-digit growth in single-digit years."

He added that the GDP recorded 10.4 per cent growth in the third quarter and this was the highest growth rate in the world for a country like India. "This is sustainable," he said, adding that the projected growth of more than eight per cent for 2003-04 would be achieved. The fiscal deficit as a percentage of GDP projected at 4.6 per cent was the best in the last 4-5 years.

The target of achieving zero revenue deficit by 2007, as contained in the Fiscal Management and Budgetary Reforms Act, was realisable within the time-frame, Mr Singh said.

To a question, he said the growth figures were not a "figment of my imagination.They have been arrived at by the Central Statistical Organisation."

On the meagre drought relief assistance extended by the Centre to Kerala, the Minister said that he had already held talks in this regard with the Chief Minister and the State Finance Minister.