DIPP circulates cabinet note for relaxing FDI norms for housing sector

17 Sep 2013 Evaluate

The Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP), the nodal ministry for the foreign direct investment (FDI) policy, has circulated a draft Cabinet note for relaxing foreign direct investment (FDI) norms for the housing sector with an objective to attract more foreign investment into the sector and provide houses at affordable prices to the people.

The draft note proposed easing the three-year lock-in period for FDI in housing and townships, and also sought reduction in the minimum capitalization to $5 million from the present $10 million for wholly-owned subsidiaries. Under the present FDI policy, the lock-in period of three years applies to every tranche of investment brought in by a foreign player from the date of receipt or from the date of 'completion' of minimum capitalization whichever is later. Further, the note has also suggested a cut in the minimum built-up area to 20,000 sq mts from 50,000 sq mts in case of construction development projects of carpet area for FDI. Meanwhile, despite allowing 100 percent foreign direct investment in townships, housing and built-up infrastructure and construction developments, the government has also imposed conditions on it.

Now, the DIPP has sought views on this proposal from various ministries including finance, home affairs ministries and the planning commission. During the period from April 2000 to June 2013, construction development sector including townships, housing and built-up infrastructure, has received FDI worth $22.24 billion, which was 11 per cent of the total FDI attracted by India during the period. Meanwhile, in April-June period of this fiscal, overall FDI in the country stood at $5.39 billion.  

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