Weeks before budget, industry again bats for FDI in multi-brand retail

After being put on the back burner for more than a year and half, the debate over allowing easier Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) norms for multi brand retail trading has again started.

"In line with 100% FDI in food retail, a similar policy could be considered for multi-brand retail in products that can be fully manufactured in and sourced from India," the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, told Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman this week.

Although the current FDI policy permits overseas players to hold 51 per cent stake in an Indian multi-brand retail company, the BJP in