Govt proposes relaxing FDI rules governing JVs

Proposing a major relaxation in a 12-year FDI rule, the Industry Ministry today made a case for allowing foreign investors to bring in fresh money and technology to India irrespective of the impact on local partners in any existing joint venture.

Proposing a major relaxation in a 12-year FDI rule, the Industry Ministry on Sunday made a case for allowing foreign investors to bring in fresh money and technology to India irrespective of the impact on local partners in any existing joint venture.

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Under the present dispensation, a foreign player who entered India before January 12, 2005 has to take government approval and "demonstrate" that fresh investment in the same field would not affect interest of his domestic joint venture partner.

The FDI rules proposed to be relaxed was not applicable to the joint ventures entered after January 12, 2005. Thus, the changes would help foreign investors who entered JVs after this date.

Suggesting abolition of this rule, the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) said in a discussion paper, "There is a need to examine whether such a conditionality continues to be relevant in the present day context." It has invited comments from the stakeholders till October 15.

It said that in an era of globalisation, where a number of free trade agreements are in place, the domestic industry has to increasingly become more competitive.

In the last one year, India has entered into market opening trade pacts with ASEAN and South Korea. Besdies, it is also a leading member of SAARC pact comprising nations of Indian sub-continent.