Since 1997, the Government of India has gradually opened up the retail sector for foreign investments despite the reservations in certain quarters that opening up of retail sector will lead to job losses, predatory pricing, reduction in farmers‟ price realization and loss of entrepreneurial opportunities. The response from foreign retailers to the earlier attempts of partial liberalization was very cautious. No retailer has made any major investment yet.
The Ministry of Commerce has organized the retail sector in India into three categories i) single brand retail ii) multi brand retail and iii) cash & carry. In 2006, FDI in single-brand retailing was permitted to the extent of 51%. Retail FDI inflow between April 2006 and March 2010 is a pathetic US$194mn, comprising 0.21% of the total FDI inflows during the period. (more…)