(a) whether capital investment in the organised retail areas in the country is on the
rise in the recent years;
(b) if so, the annual average rate of capital investment in the retail market during the
last three years;
(c) the names of foreign and Indian industrial houses which have invested in the domestic
retail market till February, 2008; and
(d) the names of the cites other than the metropolitan cities, where they have established
their outlets?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY(SHRI ASHWANI KUMAR)
(a) & (b): No centralised data is available on the total investment flows in the retail
business of the country.
(c): As per extant policy, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is not allowed in retail trade
except in retail trade of Single Brand products where FDI up to 51% is permitted with prior
Government approval. The details of the major international brands approved under this policy
are in the statement at Annex. There is no restriction on the entry of big corporate houses
and other domestic investors in to the retail sector. Reliance Industries, RPG Group, Aditya
Birla Group are some of the major Indian industrial houses which have invested in the domestic
organised retail.
(d): Approvals for FDI in single brand retail products are not given for specific outlets.
Location of retail outlets for single brand products is decided based on commercial considerations
of the investor. No centralized data is maintained on retail outlets established by domestic
investors.