FDI into India rises 24% to $3.95 bn in April-May

According to data from DIPP, country received $3.18 billion of FDI in April-May 2012

Foreign direct investment (FDI) into India increased by 24.2% year-on-year to $3.95 billion in April-May, Parliament was informed today.

According to data from the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), the country had received $3.18 billion of FDI in April-May 2012.

FDI inflows have a positive impact by supplementing domestic capital, technology and skills of existing companies as well as through establishment of new companies, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

Replying to a question about FDI in aviation, he said: "Keeping in view the sensitivity of the aviation sector, investment by foreign airlines has been allowed only up to 49% and on the government approval route."

India attracted $22.42 billion of FDI in 2012-13 compared with $35.12 billion in the previous fiscal, he said. Sectors that received large FDI inflows include hotels and tourism, pharmaceuticals, services, chemicals and construction.

The most inflows came from countries including Singapore, Mauritius, the Netherlands and the US.

On August 1, the government liberalised the FDI regime in about a dozen sectors, including telecom, and relaxed investment norms in multi-brand retailing.

India needs about $1 trillion from 2012-13 to 2016-17 to fund infrastructure such as ports, airports and highways to boost growth.

An increase in FDI will help support the rupee, which depreciated to a record low of 61.21 against the US dollar on July 8.