Harsimrat pitches for 100% FDI in food products retailing

Ministry of Food Processing Industries has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to consider 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail of food products, saying it would benefit farmers as well as common man.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, Union Food Processing Industries Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal suggested for a "relook" at the country's FDI policy in multi-brand retail in food processing.
"The letter has been forwarded to the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), which is looking at the issue," sources told PTI.
India permits 51 per cent FDI in the multi-brand retail sector. The BJP-led NDA government is opposed to allowing FDI in multi-brand retailing, but it has not yet scrapped the policy approved by the previous UPA regime.

The "politically sensitive" multi-brand retail segment in India employees millions and is dominated by mom-and-pop stores.
Badal said permitting 100 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail of food products produced and manufactured in India would give the much needed fillip to the sector.

It would also help in development of infrastructure such as cold chains that are critical for the food processing sector.
The move would benefit farmers with increased price realisation, reduction in wastages, job creation, besides acting as an incentive for global players in the sector to start operations in India, she wrote.
The government is taking several steps to attract foreign investments in the country. It has relaxed norms in over a dozen sectors including defence, construction and single brand retailing.

So far, the government has cleared UK-based Tesco's proposal in multi-brand retail sector.
During April-September, FDI in the country has increased by 13 per cent year-on-year to USD 16.63 billion.