Gold demand in India is likely to robust and reach near the pre-credit crunch level triggered by global economic crisis in 2009 and will give boost to the imports, a World Gold Council report today said. "India is the largest gold market in the world and, as such, the likely recovery of local demand to pre-crisis levels is of considerable strategic importance to the wider gold market," WGC Investment Research Manager Eily Ong said in a statement here. The report, India: Heart of Gold, said the current demand trend for the yellow metal suggested a robust year-on-year recovery in imports from the 2009 levels. Gold imports stood at Rs 88,100 crore in 2009, WGC said. "As consumers have adjusted their price expectations upwards, a further rise in gold jewellery and investment demand is anticipated and this trend is projected to continue over the long-run as local investors are buying gold driven by wealth accumulation motives," he said.

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