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As India faces problems in capital flows, Finance Minister P Chidambram on Thursday apprised US companies of steps being taken by New Delhi to raise foreign direct invesment caps on various sectors on the lines of Arvind Mayaram panel.
The finance minister asked US companies to set up manufacturing facilities in India, assuring them of fair and non-discriminatory enviornment. He raised concerns over the US immigration Bill.
Chidambaram met representatives of US companies - Microsoft, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, International Lease Finance Corporation among others - in Washington and informed them about recommendations of the Arvind Mayaram committee on enhancing foreign direct investment (FDI) caps in many sectors, and the steps being taken to implement the recommendations.
The finance minister also met Senator Max Baucus, who is the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.
The Mayaram committee has recommended only nine sectors - FM radio, up linking news and current affairs; print media (news and current affairs);commodity exchanges; stock exchanges along with depositories and clearing corporation; power exchanges; petroleum and natural gas refining and insurance, defence production and security agencies in the private sector - be categorised as the ones where Indian ownership and control is essential. Hence, it recommended a 49 per cent foreign investment cap in these sectors.
This means a minimum cap of 26 per cent on FDI would be raised to 49 per cent in many sectors, including insurance.
The sectors - banking, multi-brand retail trading, satellite establishment and operations, investment by foreign airlines in domestic scheduled passenger airlines - are proposed to open up for 74 per cent FDI. The panel suggested sectors where Indian control and ownership are not material, 100 per cent foreign investment be allowed.
Among these categories fall telecom, mining, single brand retail, pharma, holding companies, asset reconstruction companies and the tea sector, including plantations.
Chidambaram had earlier said recommendations might come up before the Cabinet in the third week of July. Certain ministries like defence however, have reservations over the recommendations.
The finance minister emphasised the need for US companies to set-up local manufacturing bases in India, saying, "It is in the mutual interest of both countries for India to become a large manufacturing base.
In his meeting with Senator Max Baucus, Chidambaram stated while some concerns have been expressed about the current business environment in India, the policies adopted by the government are "pro-growth and World Trade Organisation compliant". He stressed New Delhi is committed to ensure a transparent, fair and non-discriminatory investment environment for foreign investors seeking to do business in India.
The finance minister underscored Indian concerns about the provisions in the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill relating to skilled non-immigrant visas.
Mergers and acquisitions among Indian information technology firms might go up if the US immigration Bill becomes a reality, say industry experts and bankers.
Experts believe the provision of limiting the proportion of H1-B/L1 visa workers relative to total US employees to 50 per cent would make Indian companies increase their onsite presence. The H1-B/L1 documents are non-immigrant visas that allow US employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations.
The companies appreciated the recent move of the finance ministry on transfer pricing.
The Income Tax Department last month revoked its recent circular on adoption of profit-split method as a preferred mode for computing tax liability on multinational companies' development centres in India. It clarified another circular, relating to the parameters defining research & development centres, would be suitably modified.
The two circulars, issued in March this year, had drawn serious concerns, especially from technology and pharma companies.
