Nayanima Basu In New Delhi

Stories by Nayanima Basu In New Delhi

Real FDI fall not as sharp as magnified: Study

Real FDI fall not as sharp as magnified: Study

Rediff.com   17 Mar 2011

FDI is essentially long-term investments that come with added benefits such as better technology, management and marketing assistance, says the study.

Govt to liberalise FDI policy on JVs, tech tie-ups

Govt to liberalise FDI policy on JVs, tech tie-ups

Rediff.com   16 Mar 2011

The revised version of the FDI policy, which will be released on March 31, is expected to do away with Press Note 1, 2005, to bring in the above-mentioned change.

Indian-Asean services deal to be signed this year

Indian-Asean services deal to be signed this year

Rediff.com   7 Mar 2011

Under the services sector, India had been demanding greater opening, so that more professionals like doctors, nurses, chefs, accountants get greater job opportunities.

Service tax relief for exporters

Service tax relief for exporters

Rediff.com   21 Feb 2011

Ministry will give relief to exporters through a mechanism that will enable a timely refund of credit balance and time-bound refund of additional duty of customs.

India, US to discuss trade irritants

India, US to discuss trade irritants

Rediff.com   21 Feb 2011

India and the US are set to address some of the prickly issues that have acted as major irritants in the commercial relations between both countries recently, to ensure greater flow of trade and investment.

'We expect similar reciprocity in India'

'We expect similar reciprocity in India'

Rediff.com   14 Feb 2011

We welcome all companies from India to come and invest and do business there. We have almost no restrictions in any sector at all. However, we expect similar reciprocity in India for our apples, pistachios, helicopters, and disaster relief materials, besides other products. We do not restrict such items from entering the US markets.

FDI cap: Govt to wait for RBI stand

FDI cap: Govt to wait for RBI stand

Rediff.com   8 Feb 2011

The finance ministry said it would wait for RBI guidelines, a development which will provide much relief to ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank. Both are already known as Foreign Owned Indians Controlled entities, after foreign investment in them rose much above 50 per cent, following new norms of calculations by the commerce ministry.

Interest sops for exporters may be extended

Interest sops for exporters may be extended

Rediff.com   3 Feb 2011

The government is likely to extend interest subvention for some export-oriented sectors for another year to sustain the current growth in exports. This will be announced during the coming Union Budget for 2011-2012.

Exporters can breathe a sigh of relief on Feb 8

Exporters can breathe a sigh of relief on Feb 8

Rediff.com   3 Feb 2011

The government is set to announce some significant measures to reduce the high transaction costs faced by the country's exporters in their day-to-day operations. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will be unveiling the measures on February 8.

Export incentives unlikely this financial year

Export incentives unlikely this financial year

Rediff.com   27 Jan 2011

The government is unlikely to extend any more incentives to exporters this financial year, with the export growth rate at an impressive 36.3 per cent in December, even as they complain of a high interest rate eating away competitiveness.

Data exclusivity still key hurdle to India-EU FTA

Data exclusivity still key hurdle to India-EU FTA

Rediff.com   27 Jan 2011

Despite all official assurances, the path towards a free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the European Union (EU) this year remains ambiguous, as both sides are unwilling to relax their stand on the biggest stumbling block - the issue of "data exclusivity".

Urea to come under NBS from April 1

Urea to come under NBS from April 1

Rediff.com   27 Jan 2011

The long-awaited move to bring urea under the Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS) scheme is likely to be announced in the coming Union Budget, to be unveiled on February 28, even as the government would decontrol its prices gradually.

Govt to announce multi-brand retail policy soon

Govt to announce multi-brand retail policy soon

Rediff.com   17 Jan 2011

The government is likely to announce significant policy measures relating to allowance of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the multi-brand retail segment, even as the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (Dipp) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry is giving final touches to the draft report prepared by an inter-ministerial committee.

Government puts SAIL FPO on fast track

Government puts SAIL FPO on fast track

Rediff.com   12 Jan 2011

The government's aim is to ensure it gets to its Rs 40,000-crore (Rs 400-billion) target from disinvestment proceeds before the end of 2010-11.

India not yet ready to take US to WTO: Sharma

India not yet ready to take US to WTO: Sharma

Rediff.com   7 Jan 2011

Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma has said India will not "rush to" the World Trade Organization (WTO) over the "regressive" steps taken by the US recently, which include an increase in the visa fee and a special levy on foreign manufacturers.

India-Asean services deal hits roadblock

India-Asean services deal hits roadblock

Rediff.com   15 Dec 2010

According to a senior commerce department official, talks between India and the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) - the 10-country trading bloc - have hit a roadblock, with some of the advanced developing countries demanding greater flexibilities from India.

Free trade pact with EU making good progress

Free trade pact with EU making good progress

Rediff.com   29 Nov 2010

Earlier this week, commerce secretary Rahul Khullar met EU director-general for trade David O'Sullivan to review the progress so far. Several differences mired the process over EU's insistence on including social issues such as human rights, labour policies and climate change within the FTA purview.

SAIL looking for ventures into analogous sectors

SAIL looking for ventures into analogous sectors

Rediff.com   24 Nov 2010

Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) is looking for ventures into analogous sectors. While the state-run company is going for a follow-on public offer (FPO) in early 2011, it is looking at some aggressive expansion plans, and mergers and acquisitions as well, said Chandra Shekhar Verma, chairman and managing director.

India, Canada to enter a bilateral trade agreement

India, Canada to enter a bilateral trade agreement

Rediff.com   18 Nov 2010

India and Canada aim at achieving a bilateral trade target of $15 billion in the next five years, even as both countries are beginning a series of negotiations to have a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) soon that would yield significant economic benefit for both countries and lower tariffs over a large number of products, says Peter Van Loan, Minister of International Trade, Canada.

Government may put fertiliser policy on ice

Government may put fertiliser policy on ice

Rediff.com   18 Nov 2010

The Department of Fertilizers (DoF) plans to bring in all policies, including the New Investment Policy meant to overhaul urea production, under one umbrella - Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS) policy.