Friday, June 25, 2010

No Rushing with FDI Reforms

India favours calibrated liberalisation of foreign investment norms in sensitive sectors like retail, defence, banking and insurance on account of domestic sensitivities.

India already has a liberal and transparent FDI regime in place except for a few sensitive sectors where the country was in favour of `calibrarted liberalisation’.

India's initiatives like simplification and consolidation of the FDI policy would go a long way in improving business environment. At present, FDI is not allowed in multi-brand retail in India, but it is permitted in wholesale trade and single-brand retail. Up to 26% FDI is allowed in defence and insurance sectors, while banks can have up to 74% of foreign investment.

The US wanted India to address longstanding impediments such as investment caps, agricultural market access barriers, high tariffs, intellectual property rights and the need for continuing regulatory streamlining and transparency,etc, in recently concluded CEOs Meet in the US.

These insights emerged in an official and industry delegation in the second meeting of the Forum co-chaired by Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata and Honeywell Inc CEO Dave Cote. The meeting was also attended by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and deputy chairman of Planning Commission of India Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

The US official delegation included secretary of state Hillary Clinton, treasury secretary Timothy Geithner, commerce secretary Gary Locke, US Trade Representative Ambassador Ron Kirk and director of National Economic Council Larry Summers.

Read the full Report: No Rushing with FDI Reforms

Svipja Technologies
Credit: Business Standard.

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