New Delhi, March 17 (IANS) The government will not prevent public sector banks from entering new businesses like insurance and mutual funds, a senior finance ministry official said Wednesday.

'There is no issue at all. We have never asked banks not to take up insurance or mutual funds businesses,' Financial Services Secretary R. Gopalan said on the sidelines of a function organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci).

Gopalan was responding to reports that the finance ministry may ask state-run banks receiving fresh funds from the government not to enter non-core businesses like insurance and mutual funds.

'The banks have to expand in various financial product activities. You cannot prevent them from getting into these,' he said.

According to some estimates, a minimum start-up capital of Rs.100 crore is needed to enter the insurance business.