VOA标准英语2008年-India Optimistic US Financial Troubles Will Not

American business leaders say the global financial turmoil¹ will make it more difficult for emerging economies like India's to attract foreign investment. However, Indian officials expect the country's economy to escape relatively² unscathed. Anjana Pasricha reports from New Delhi, where industry leaders from the two countries met to push for deeper commercial ties.
　
Chairperson of the US-India Business Council, Indra K. Nooyi, delivers her speech during a business meeting in New Delhi, 24 Sep 2008

The chairman of the United States India Business Council, Indra Nooyi, says American industries can play a larger role in several critical areas in India, such as creation of modern infrastructure³ and boosting agricultural productivity.

India-born Nooyi is chairman and chief executive officer of American cola giant PepsiCo.

Nooyi warns that financial crisis rocking the United States will make it harder to attract investment. She spoke⁴ at a meeting of the US-India Business Council in New Delhi.

"We recognize that the competition for capital is fierce - especially at this moment," Nooyi said. "Cash is in short supply and there are many pressing infrastructure needs in the United States, too. But India can attract the investment with the right policies."

American business leaders say the Indian government must create the "right environment" by ensuring that contracts and government levies⁵ are not changed after projects get underway.

Indian leaders have been calling for tens of billions of dollars in investment to build roads, ports and power plants, as the country's growing economy grapples with worsening infrastructure bottlenecks⁶.

India's economy is expanding at more than eight percent a year, making it the world's second fastest growing economy.

India's Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal told American business leaders that economic growth may lower marginally, but will continue to be strong.

"With the financial meltdown we are already seeing soothsayers of despair suggesting that India's growth rate will not cross seven percent. But even seven percent, in a situation of this nature, is perhaps good enough for us to move forward," Sibal said.

Indian officials have expressed optimism that the country's banks and other financial institutions will be unaffected by the crisis triggered by the collapse⁷ of American investment banks

But they admit that the country could see lower investment, in the coming year, as the world grapples with a liquidity⁸ crunch⁹. India's stock markets have already been hit as foreign investors¹⁰ have pulled out billions of dollars, since the crisis.

 

1 turmoil   

n.骚乱，混乱，动乱

参考例句：

• His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
• The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。

2 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

3 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

4 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

5 levies   

（部队）征兵( levy的名词复数 )； 募捐； 被征募的军队

参考例句：

• At that time, taxes and levies were as many as the hairs on an ox. 那时，苛捐杂税多如牛毛。
• Variable levies can insulate farmers and consumers from world markets. 差价进口税可以把农民和消费者与世界市场隔离开来。

6 bottlenecks   

n.瓶颈( bottleneck的名词复数 )；瓶颈路段（常引起交通堵塞）；（尤指工商业发展的）瓶颈；阻碍

参考例句：

• Roadworks are causing bottlenecks in the city centre. 道路施工导致市中心交通阻塞。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• At five o'clock in the afternoon the city streets are a series of bottlenecks. 下午五点市中心的街道就成了拥挤不堪的窄路。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

7 collapse   

vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。

8 liquidity   

n.流动性，偿债能力，流动资产

参考例句：

• The bank has progressively increased its liquidity.银行逐渐地增加其流动资产。
• The demand for and the supply of credit is closely linked to changes in liquidity.信用的供求和流动资金的变化有密切关系。

9 crunch   

n.关键时刻；艰难局面；v.发出碎裂声

参考例句：

• If it comes to the crunch they'll support us.关键时刻他们是会支持我们的。
• People who crunch nuts at the movies can be very annoying.看电影时嘎吱作声地嚼干果的人会使人十分讨厌。

10 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会