Foreign Direct Investments

The Government of India has reviewed the extant policy on FDI and decided as under: (i) FDI, up to 100%, under the automatic route, would continue to be permitted for greenfield investments in the pharmaceuticals sector. (ii) FDI, up to 100%, would be permitted for brownfield investments (i.e. investments in existing companies), in the pharmaceuticals sector, under the Government approval route. Full Article

FDI in LLPs will be allowed under the Government Approval Route in those sectors / activities where 100 percent FDI is allowed under the Automatic Route and there are no FDI-linked performance related conditions. The LLPs with FDI will not be allowed to operate in Agricultural / Plantation Activities, Print Media or Real Estate. The LLPs with FDI will not be eligible to make any Downstream Investments. Full Article

The draft Direct Tax Code Bill, 2009 (DTC or Code) was released for public comments by the Government of India (Government) on 12 August 2009. The stated objective of the DTC is to establish an economically efficient, effective and equitable direct tax system which will facilitate voluntary compliance and reduce the scope for disputes and minimize litigation. Full Article

Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Subodh Kant Sahai today urged the states to remove Value Added Tax (VAT) on perishable goods and peg it below four per cent on non-perishable items to encourage food processing industry. Around 15 companies have already brought in 106.4 million US dollar foreign direct investments into the country's food processing sector, Sahai said while addressing Investors' Meeting for Development of Food Processing Sector in And.. Full Article

The Reserve Bank of India has issued a circular dated 14 December 2007, laying down the directions for issuance of shares under Foreign Direct Investments and refund of advance remittances. With effect from November 29, 2007, equity instruments should be issued or advance remittances should be refunded within 180 days of receiving the money. Full Article