India needs to liberalise, change policies to attract more FDI: Nazareth (Corrected)

New Delhi, Sep 18 (ANI): Policy analyst Premila Nazareth has emphasised that India needs to liberalise and change its policies to attract more foreign direct investments.

During the release of the annual study of worldwide investment trends by the United Nations Conference on Trade And Development (UNCTAD) in the national capital, Nazareth also blamed the bureaucracy in India for being the main reason for less inflow of FDI.

“FDI policies do not need much changes to increase fund inflows. Policies are fine. The rest of the policies, bureaucracies and regulations are creating problems for people and these are the reasons behind less inflow of FDI. The policies are liberal, but we need to change and liberalise the sectoral policies of various sectors for private investments,” Nazareth said.

Nazareth further said that India and China are being seen as strong contenders for the Global Direct Investment (GDI) due to their emerging economy status.

“India’s position as a recipient country in the global FDI picture is only going to strengthen over the next few years because global investors are now looking more and more the emerging world as a whole. China and India are seen as very strong players, markets with guaranteed growth in a way and this is only going to grow,” Nazareth added. (ANI)

India needs to liberalise, change policies to attract more FDI: World Bank

New Delhi, Sep 17(ANI): World Bank consultant Premila Nazareth on Thursday emphasised that India needs to liberalise and change its policies to attract more foreign direct investments.

During the release of the annual study of worldwide investment trends by the United Nations Conference on Trade And Development (UNCTAD) in the national capital, Nazareth also blamed the bureaucracy in India as the main reason for less inflow of foreign investments.

“FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) policies do not need much changes to increase FDI inflows. Policies are fine. The rest of the policies, bureaucracies and regulations are creating problems for people and these are the reasons behind less inflow of FDI. The policies are liberal, but we need to change and liberalise the sectoral policies of various sectors for private investments,” Nazareth said.

Nazareth further said that India and China are being seen as strong contenders for the Global Direct Investment (GDI) due to their emerging economy status.

“India’s position as a recipient country in the global FDI picture is only going to strengthen over the next few years because global investors are now looking more and more the emerging world as a whole. China and India are seen as very strong players, markets with guaranteed growth in a way and this is only going to grow,” Nazareth added. (ANI)

Pranab Mukherjee confers with cabinet colleagues on budget

New Delhi, June 19 (ANI): Union Food Processing Minister Subodh Kant Sahay and Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ambika Soni met Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee ahead of the general budget, which is to be presented on July 6.

As part of the pre-budget exercise, Mukherjee held parleys with various stakeholders, state finance ministers, industrialist groups, leading economists, trade unionists and top officials of various financial institutions.

“We have requested that this sector is a perishable sector, rural activities based sector, so tax holiday is required for the sector for 8 to 10 years, so that private investments come in,” said Sahay.

“I requested the Finance Minister to provide parity and rationalisation in the service tax paid by broadcasters on revenues accrued by them from advertisements. There should be a parity in print and broadcasting media,” Ambika Soni said.

The Union Cabinet on Monday decided to hold the Budget session from July 2 to 7 while the General Budget will be presented on July 6.

It was also decided that the Economy Survey would be presented on July 2.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh presented an interim budget for the 2009/10 (April/March) in February ahead of the general elections in April and May.

In its five budgets since 2004, the Congress party-led coalition has raised spending on health, education and rural employment. (ANI)