Key sectors that received maximum FDI include services, computer software and hardware, telecommunications, trading, chemicals, and automobile.
China has approved 8,152 new foreign-invested companies over the past four months, a rise of 8.61 per cent year-on-year.
Suggesting big-ticket reforms to attract investment in the infrastructure sector, a high-level committee on Wednesday recommended increasing electricity charges and rail fares.
The chief minister held that foreign investors would try to capture the retail sector that would subjugate the farmers and destroy local retailers and the common man would not benefit in any way.
Notwithstanding its inability to open multi-brand retail for foreign investment, government on Tuesday notified 100 per cent FDI in single-brand retail, paving way for global chains like Adidas, Louis Vuitton and Gucci to have full ownership of their India operations.
Position as most-favoured destination moves down a notch to fourth, says Unctad report.
FDI equity inflows into the country during April-January 2020-21 grew by 28 per cent to $54.18 billion, according to the Commerce and Industry Ministry data released on Monday. Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows during April-January 2019-20 stood at $42.34 billion. Total FDI (which includes reinvested earnings) during the 10-month period in FY21 increased by 15 per cent to $72.12 billion over the year-ago period.
China has defended its plan to build the world's largest dam on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet, assuring that the project will not affect riparian states and safety issues have been addressed through decades of studies. The dam, estimated to cost USD 137 billion, has raised concerns in India and Bangladesh, but Chinese authorities maintain that the project has been thoroughly studied and safeguards are in place. The dam is part of China's efforts to develop clean energy and respond to climate change.
India's foreign direct investment is expected to rise substantially from this month with the Reserve Bank of India incorporating many new components in the FDI basket in line with international practices.
A separate clearance will now be required from the finance ministry's revenue department, according to an official clarification issued earlier this week. The clarification assumes importance in the backdrop of increasing cases where FDI proposals have been opposed by the revenue department due to concerns over revenue losses.
Brand name rule might be waived for Swedish major's mega investment proposal, indicates DIPP; final revision of its application likely by end-August.
Amazon India is waiting for clarifications from the government on several aspects of the latest FDI guidelines to be able to carry on with business in the country. Sources said, no new investment is likely till at least the second half of 2019.
Since the Centre tightened the Press Note 3 norms in April last, as many as 150 private equity/venture capital investment applications from China and Hong Kong are pending with the government, starving the country's start-up ecosystem of funds, says a report. The Press Note 3 (PN3) changes were effected in April, restricting foreign direct investment from countries that share land borders with India. Analysts are of the view that the move was primarily aimed at China as lot of private funds were investing billions into domestic companies.
Tech giant allowed to set up fully owned shops, with 30% local sourcing like everyone else.
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.
Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) have infused a record Rs 4.6 trillion into Indian equities over the course of Samvat 2080, marking the highest net annual investment in any Samvat to date. This robust domestic inflow has effectively counterbalanced the comparatively subdued investments from foreign portfolio investors (FPIs), who contributed a net Rs 90,956 crore within the same timeframe. Against this backdrop, the Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex indices are on track to achieve their best performance in three Samvat years, despite recent market corrections.
The aviation minister, Ajit Singh, on Tata-Air Asia joint venture
Regardless of the merits and demerits of foreign direct investment in retail, the fact is that a tie-up between organised retailers and farmers benefits both, as also consumers of farm goods, writes Surinder Sud.
Only recently had UP chief minister and Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati expressed reservation against the Congress-led government's proposed FDI-in-retail policy.
It was primarily due to a higher trade deficit ($41.6 billion) brought about by a larger increase in merchandise import.
The decision to allow 51 per cent foreign direct investments in multi-brand retail has been put on hold by the government following strong objections from the Opposition and key United Progressive Alliance allies Trinamool Congress and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.
Trump's sweeping tariffs and penalties on China-built ships have turned global shipping into the front line of economic war, observes Shyam G Menon.
International investors are encouraged by the Indian government's recent economic policy announcements, including that on opening the retail sector to foreign direct investment (FDI). However, they would track how these measures were implemented, said speakers at the annual India Investment Forum in New York.
UK flag carrier British Airways plans to tie up with an Indian domestic carrier in a franchise partnership.
Industry experts say that the government needs to further relax FDI norms to attract investors to the sector.
A committee of secretaries will be meeting soon to consider a draft proposal, which suggests that decision-making on all policy issues pertaining to FDI be transferred from the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP) in the Ministry of Commerce to the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) in the Ministry of Finance.
The campaign will be launched in global as well as domestic markets across the media.
Country's largest realty firm DLF, which has tied up with Dubai-based developer Limitless for developing Rs 60,000-crore (Rs 600 billion) township in Bangalore, has sought government approval for bringing in foreign direct investments worth $ 150 million. Official sources said the issue would be taken by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) on Friday, adding it is likely to get approval. The foreign investment proposal would be given the final clearance by the FM.
Eighteen of 30 product categories proposed by Swedish furniture major struck off.
After approving 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail, the CoS is said to have suggested stringent conditions for foreign retailers such as minimum investment of $100 million.
P-notes are issued by registered Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) to overseas investors who wish to be a part of the Indian stock market without registering themselves directly. They, however, need to go through a due diligence process. According to Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) data, the value of P-note investments in Indian markets -- equity, debt, and hybrid securities -- stood at Rs 90,580 crore at April-end, compared to Rs 87,979 crore in March.
'He will be remembered more for what he did as finance minister -- as someone who functioned well when the political fallout was taken care of.'
Foreign direct investments (FDI) into the country grew 19 per cent to $59.64 billion during 2020-21 on account of measures taken by the government on the fronts of policy reforms, investment facilitation and ease of doing business, the commerce and industry ministry said on Monday. Total FDI, including equity, re-invested earnings and capital, rose 10 per cent to the "highest ever" of $81.72 billion during 2020-21 as against $74.39 billion in 2019-20. "FDI equity inflow grew by 19 per cent in 2020-21 ($59.64 billion), compared to 2019-20 ($49.98 billion)," the ministry said in a statement. In terms of top investor countries, Singapore is at the top with 29 per cent share.
Anand Sharma said the Rs 2,060-crore Jet-Etihad deal falls in line with new 'control' definition.
At the same time, Indian companies with a majority foreign shareholding could find it difficult to make 'downstream' investments since the new guidelines do not distinguish between different forms of capital and treats them as FDI. So, a company with high non-FDI foreign capital was considered an Indian entity. Now, they will be considered foreign-owned and their downstream investments will have to follow sectoral restrictions.
It also plans to open 5 new centres across India in addition to its two fulfilment centres (FCs) in Mumbai and Bangalore.
Etihad and Qatar Airways have held informal talks with Kingfisher and SpiceJet to expand their footprints in India.
Foreign investment in news channels includes FDI, FII, External Commercial Borrowings and investment by NRIs.
