SME’s support FDI in multi brand retail: CII Survey

28 Jan 2012 Evaluate

According to a survey undertaken by CII to find out the impact of FDI on small and medium enterprises (SMEs), all the respondents were in support of 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) in single-brand retail and are keen on 51% FDI in multi-brand retail.

These findings are quite contrary to the popular belief that the entry of multi brand retailers will be detrimental to the Indian economy and will mean a loss of business for smaller retailers. Infact according to the survey, the government’s decision of mandatory sourcing of a minimum of 30% from Indian micro and small industry will help SMEs to achieve higher growth in sales, size of the industry, capacity addition, increased contracts/orders, qualitative improvements and branding of the products, technology upgradation, employment etc. 

While, 66.7% of the respondents see the entry of multi brand retailers as an opportunity while 21% perceive it as a threat. Further findings of the Survey reveal that 98.6% of the respondents feel that FDI in retail will augment growth of sales of their products. Majority (98%), also feel that this will help the size of the industry to grow as it will lead to greater capacity addition by businesses. Majority of respondents (96%) were of the view that opening of the FDI in retail would impact positively in the form of new orders/contracts generated. 

68.7% of the respondents are of the opined that the opening up of retail would lead to improvements in the supply chain efficiencies in their sector which in turn will integrate small and medium size enterprises into the modern trade process, resulting in substantial amount of knowledge and skills transfer in the sector. Around 48% of the respondents are of the opinion that the decision would have a positive impact on their employment whereas 35% expect no change in the employment scenario. Around 16% expect the impact of FDI in retail on the employment in the SME sector to be negative.

The CII Survey is based on a large sample size covering different categories of SMEs according to sales turnover including companies with a turnover of Rs.25 lakhs to 1 crore, between Rs.1 crore to Rs.5 crore, Rs 5 crore to 25 crore and SMEs having turnover between Rs 25 crore and 100 crore and above, from different regions of the country.

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