'Tough riders for FDI in multi-brand retail'

The government's proposal to permit FDI in multi-brand retail trading has several riders built in as safeguards, broadly in line with the trend globally, where retail continues to be a tightly regulated sector. But most analysts concede that the conditions proposed for multi-brand retail in India are among the most stringent globally.

In most emerging market economies, the process of liberalisation started in the early nineties, with China opening its retail sector in 1992, Brazil, Mexico and Argentina in 1994 and Indonesia in 1998.

According to Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) data, many countries, including China, have opened up the retail sector in a phased manner, with Japan first allowing FDI in specific retail formats such as speciality stores and then gradually expanding it to hypermarkets and supermarkets.

In some countries, FDI in retail is allowed subject to conditions such as partnership and investment requirements, such as in Sri Lanka, where FDI is not permitted in retail trade for investments of less than $1 million (or $150,000 in the case of international brands and franchises).

In the Philippines, foreign investment in retail enterprises is permitted if it meets several requirements such as paid-up capital is $2.5 million or more; a $830,000 minimum investment per store; the parent company having a net worth of over $200 million; and the retailer owning at least five retail stores elsewhere or at least one outlet with capitalisation of at least $25 million.

Apart from FDI restrictions, countries have imposed several regulations that can vary across regions within the same country. For instance, countries like Japan, China, Singapore, Italy and France impose zoning restrictions on retailers. In China, domestic companies are treated more favorably than foreign companies in zoning and urban development requirements. In France and Vietnam there is an Economic Need Test which examines the requirement for a retail outlet, according to an ICRIER study.

... contd.

ALSO READ

After lull, highway projects see aggressive bid offers

Govt aims to bring down CAD to 2.5% by 12th Plan-end, says Montek

Raghuram Rajan not in favour of sovereign bond to finance CAD

Companies expand background check on jobseekers