Union Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath indicated on Friday that foreign direct investment (FDI) norms in the retail sector may be further liberalised to enable greater flow of investment into post-harvest and cold-chain infrastructure.

India currently allows 51 per cent foreign direct investment in single brand retail chains.

"You will hear some news (on liberalising FDI in the sector) soon," Nath said on the sidelines of the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit.

"Retail in India is concentrated in neighbourhood shops. The entry of FDI should not destabilise the small shops," he added, noting that the government would like large retail chains to be suppliers for the smaller shops without damaging their businesses.

"They (big chains) will be at the back end...they will build the infrastructure," he said, adding that they would also handle refrigerated products.

Speaking at the session on 'Reforms for sustained growth' at the Summit, Nath said that "no post-harvest reforms in agriculture have taken place and lack of investment in the cold chain leads to wastage of 40 per cent of our fruit and vegetables."