RBI proposes escrow mechanism to prevent misuse of foreign funds

25 Apr 2013 Evaluate

In order to prevent the misuses of foreign investors’ funds, the Reserve Bank of India has proposed that inflow of foreign funds to the Indian entity should be allowed only through escrow mechanism. According to the RBI's proposal, Indian investee companies would be required to open an escrow account with bank rather than directly remitting to the account of investee company and funds shall be released by bank from this account in accordance with the terms of escrow arrangement.

The issue was recently discussed at a high-level meeting headed by the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) secretary Arvind Mayaram, which was also attended by DIPP Secretary Saurabh Chandra, Chief Economic Advisor Raghuram Rajan and RBI officials. The central bank argued that that the misuse can be checked if usage of money is allowed only after issuance of shares. In the meeting the proposal was accepted and was said that the RBI may flesh out the proposal and forward it with a draft notification for consideration and approval.

The foreign direct investment (FDI) in India declined by 19 percent in February, 2013 to $ 1.79 billion from the $ 2.15 billion recorded in the same month of previous year, owing to the prevailing global economic slowdown. Foreign investment is considered crucial for economic development of a country and the decline in foreign investments could put pressure on the country’s balance of payments and may also impact the value of the rupee.

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