Asking Indian companies to aspire to be among the top five global players in their sectors finance minister P Chidambaram has assured them of assistance in raising capital to finace overseas acquisitions.

He said that industry must look beyond 9 per cent growth, which was possible only through inorganic growth.

Chidambaram said that while companies must grow organically in the domestic market, they would have to expand their global presence through acquisitions.

Chidambaram said that the country was delighted at Tata Steel''s acquirsition of the Anglo-Dutch steel maker Corus Plc, and other major Indian companies should make similar efforts to become among the global top five brands.

Indian companies have in recent times acquired a number of foreign companies in metals, software, pharma, energy and FMCG.

While the Tata Group spent over $12 billion, Aditya Birla Group flagship Hindalco acquired Canada`s Novelis for half that amount, Suzlon Energy bought Germany`s REpower for around $1 billion, while Tata Motors is currently reported to be in the race for acquiring two iconic brands, Land Rover and Jaguar.