India: Invertir a l'Índia
According to UNCTAD's 2021 World Investment Report, FDI inflows reached an all-time high of USD 64 billion in 2020, registering a 27% increase compared to 2019 (where FDI had reached USD 51 billion). The stock of FDI reached USD 480 billion in 2020. India ranks 5th among the top 20 FDI host economies and the largest host in the sub-region; the country historically accounts for 70-80% of inflows into the region.
In the midst of India's struggle to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, robust investments through acquisitions in ICT (software and hardware) and construction supported FDI. Cross-border mergers and acquisitions increased by 83% to USD 27 billion, with large deals involving ICT, healthcare, infrastructure and energy. Major transactions included the acquisition of Jio Platforms by Jaadhu (US) for USD 5.7 billion, the acquisition of Tower Infrastructure Trust by Brookfield (Canada) and GIC (Singapore) for USD 3.7 billion and the sale of Larsen & Toubro India's electrical and automation division for USD 2.1 billion. The merger of Unilever India with GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare India for USD 4.6 billion also contributed.
During the year, India has relaxed administrative regulations for foreign investors in some industrial sectors by abolishing the requirement for approval by the Reserve Bank of India under certain conditions. The overall growth of FDI in India is thanks to its many assets, especially its high degree of specialisation in services, with a skilled, English-speaking and inexpensive labour force and a potential market of one billion inhabitants. Singapore, Mauritius, the Netherlands, Japan, the U.S., the U.K., France and Germany are the main investing countries in India. Investments were mainly oriented towards services, computer software and hardware, telecommunications, trade, the automobile industry, construction, chemicals.
India ranked 63rd out of 190 countries in the last Doing Business report, published in 2020 by the World Bank, a significant improvement from the previous year's spot, when it ranked 77th. As such, India joined the list of 10 most improved economies for the third year in a row. The country has conducted a remarkable reform effort, and given the size of the country's economy, these reform efforts are particularly commendable. Since the implementation of these reforms, more than 2,000 companies have used the new law. Global investors typically focus on India mainly because of its demographics, but also for its stable barometers, whether it be inflation, fiscal deficit or growth. However, the country still has several restrictive laws on foreign investment, excessive bureaucracy, and high levels of corruption. Still, given India’s growing demographics, and huge e-commerce and technological markets, activity in both areas are expected to grow in the following years. Among the biggest investments that occurred in recent years is the merger Sony Pictures Networks India, a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc., and Zee Entertainment Enterprises for USD 1.575 billion.
Foreign Direct Investment | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
FDI Inward Flow (million USD) | 50,558 | 64,072 | 44,735 |
FDI Stock (million USD) | 426,959 | 480,228 | 514,292 |
Number of Greenfield Investments* | 701 | 403 | 455 |
Value of Greenfield Investments (million USD) | 29,788 | 23,976 | 15,727 |
Source: UNCTAD, Latest available data
Note: * Greenfield Investments are a form of Foreign Direct Investment where a parent company starts a new venture in a foreign country by constructing new operational facilities from the ground up.
Country Comparison For the Protection of Investors | India | South Asia | United States | Germany |
Index of Transaction Transparency* | 8.0 | 5.8 | 7.0 | 5.0 |
Index of Manager’s Responsibility** | 7.0 | 5.0 | 9.0 | 5.0 |
Index of Shareholders’ Power*** | 7.0 | 7.4 | 9.0 | 5.0 |
Source: Doing Business, Latest available data
Note: *The Greater the Index, the More Transparent the Conditions of Transactions. **The Greater the Index, the More the Manager is Personally Responsible. *** The Greater the Index, the Easier it Will Be For Shareholders to Take Legal Action.
Advantages for FDI in India:
Some of the principal disadvantages for FDI in India :
In order to position India as a global hub for Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) and push further the vision of the National Policy on Electronics (NPE) 2019, three schemes namely the Production Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI), Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electronic Components and Semiconductors (SPECS) and Modified Electronics Manufacturing Clusters Scheme (EMC 2.0) have been notified.
For more information, consult the website of Invest India, the official Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency of the Government of India.
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Actualitzacions: January 2023