Anand Sharma, who took charge of the nodal ministry for FDI on May 29, said there is no need for a relook at the policy amended in February by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion. While the policy does not allow overseas inflow into this sector, the changes in February were perceived to be opening the sector to FDI up to 49 per cent in an Indian firm that has a downstream subsidiary firm in retailing.
This is the largest investment in the single-brand retailing ever since the government has allowed foreign direct investment.
The Union ministry of agriculture and the department of land resources under the ministry of rural development have given "in principle approval" to a proposal of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) to invite FDI for developing non-arable land through better technology into fertile and cultivable land.
New policy to give greater flexibility to foreign players.
Nearly 250 private liquor vends, licensed under now-withdrawn Excise Policy 2021-22, are running currently in the city.
The Indian government has asked the cement industry to concentrate on modernisation and upgradation of technology, optimisation of operations and increased application of automation and information technology.
The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion has been working on the draft for the last several months. The areas coming up for review may include sports goods and airport ground handling services, besides gas and petroleum.
New foreign trade policy to stress manufacturing exports.
The Union Cabinet is expected to soon consider a proposal to increase foreign direct investment cap in broadcasting services like Direct-to-Home and cable TV networks to a uniform 74 per cent.
Currently, 100 per cent FDI in is permitted if the companies manufacture cigars or cigarettes or allied products.
In a discussion paper, the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion has suggested creation of new service entities to which most of the statutory compliances, under the labour laws for small and medium enterprises, can be outsourced.
India and the US on Thursday said they are looking forward to the reconvening of the India-US Trade Policy Forum later this year to further enhance trade relationship and identify new areas for engagement.
The commerce ministry has sought a review of foreign direct investment policy in the pharmaceutical sector, in the light of recent takeovers of domestic companies by multinationals.
While foreign direct investment is not allowed in the multi-brand retail, the organised retail stores promoted by the domestic industrial houses have been steadily growing.
The commerce and industry ministry is not in favour of allowing foreign airlines to buy stake in Indian carriers on the ground that the sector is sensitive.
Spurring the economy, currently in the throes of a slowdown, remains the prime focus for most ministries, but the government is also looking to make women's welfare and environmental protection key to policymaking in this term.
It will provide a single-stop shop for all business licences and permits, eliminate the need for a physical interface with various regulatory authorities at the central, state and local government levels and provide all business-related information 24x7 on a single portal.
The retail company has sought approval to invest Rs 10,500 crore to set up single-brand retail stores in the country.
The dust over the controversy around foreign direct investment (FDI) in the defence sector appears to have settled.
'Das is friendly, but he finally does what he does. The quality of engagement is very good.'
Retailers can buy existing facilities if they spend $50 mn to create additional infra.
Two unions representing Air India pilots have asked members not to accept the revised compensation and employment offer, calling the company's proposals "unfair labour practices." They said any coercion on pilots to sign the offer would lead to industrial unrest. The Tata group airline announced on Monday a new salary structure for pilots and cabin crew.
The Union ministry of food and consumer affairs proposes to insert a new clause in the fresh discussion note for the Cabinet on allowing foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail.
The new Consolidated Foreign Direct Investment Policy, effective from April 1, limits FDI in defence units to 26 per cent. But the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion of the commerce ministry is in favour of raising this limit.
American retail major Walmart has snapped ties with Indian partner Bharti but its plans to enter the country's multi-brand retail space appears intact.
Ecommerce firms will have it tough as govt turns down FDI proposal.
The commerce and industry ministry has informed the Prime Minister's Office that the Bharti Group has conveyed to the government that its joint venture with Wal-Mart was in compliance with the existing FDI policy.
Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma along with officials from his ministry were in the Nordic country for a two-day visit. They were accompanied by Indian industrialists led by the Confederation of Indian Industry.
The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion is closely working with the Reserve Bank of India, DIPP's joint secretary Gopal Krishna told reporters in New Delhi at a Confederation of Indian Industry function.
India, at present allows 51 per cent FDI in single brand retail and 100 per cent in the cash-and-carry .
Tesco, which has sought the government's permission to buy 50 per cent stake in Tatas-owned Trent Hypermarket Ltd, will have to invest atleast $55 million in creation of fresh back-end infrastructure.
Govt recently relaxed sourcing norms for FDI in single brand retail.
At present, a project with investment of more than Rs 600 crore in sectors routed through the Foreign Investment Promotion Board has to be referred to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.
Soft drinks and foods major Pepsico India Holdings Pvt Ltd has applied to the Foreign Investment Promotion Board to invest an additional $200 million (around Rs 950 crore) as equity in its Indian operations.
Cap in single-brand retail likely to be 74%.
On December 21, MHA promulgated a draft Arms and Ammunition Manufacturing Policy, which allows the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (Dipp) to issue licence to large private companies that are capable of producing advanced weapons, and invest over Rs 50 crore (Rs 500 million), to manufacture arms and ammunition to be "primarily supplied to the Central Paramilitary Forces, Defence and state governments on tendering basis".
Tusk Investment, Mauritius, a wholly owned subsidiary of private equity firm Elephant Capital, has sought approval from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) to acquire a 30 per cent stake in Amar Chitra Katha Pvt Ltd (ACK).
The government is considering a proposal to allow 100 per cent foreign direct investment into the country's defence sector, despite stiff opposition from the defence ministry that has raised security concerns.
The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) has finally sanctioned the proposal of allowing foreign direct investment (FDI) from Pakistan. But the final notification will be issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) within the next couple of weeks. The move will be unprecedented in the bilateral trading relations between both the nuclear-armed neighbours.
The clearances are for three proposals submitted to the Foreign Investment Promotion Board by Bharti Telemedia, which offers direct-to-home television services, Tata Teleservices, in which Japan's DoCoMo has picked up 27.3 per cent equity, and SKR BPO Services, which has made downstream investments in Sparsh BPO. Press notes 2 and 4, issued in February this year, changed the way indirect foreign equity is treated while computing the total foreign investment.