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Hope comes alive after retail vote, but no quick gains likely
Real action likely after a year
Though international biggies are already in India, they are yet to formalise plans for front-end multi-brand retail
Agenda for FIPB meeting on Jan 18 doesn't mention its application
At the Dec 31 meeting of FIPB, the IKEA proposal was deferred till the next meeting, now scheduled for Jan 18
Three foreign single-brand majors apply in the past one month
this is despite FIPB over-ruling the issue of treaty shopping raised by the Dept of Revenue
When IKEA's CEO & India's industry minister sealed a deal in-principle last year, foreign investors took note
Others like IBM, Coke and Pepsi also lobby for foreign markets
Lobbying is integral to business, its legality a matter of perception: Experts
Carrefour is the second-largest retail chain in the world after Walmart
Much of phase-2 of India's e-commerce boom will be automatic
Fight is really for signature caf¿, restaurant and Swedish meat ball that IKEA is known for
Interview with Minister of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation
FIPB likely to allow cafs and restaurants in its review of conditional approval on December 31