<p>"Starting with 49 per cent FDI in the sector would be a safe thing," a senior Consumer Affairs Ministry official told PTI.<br /><br />However, the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), which is piloting the proposal for the politically sensitive sector, is in favour of a majority stake (51 per cent) for foreign retail chains, with set-up conditionalities.<br />Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in his interaction with editors yesterday, said there is a "big debate about it" in government and Parliament.</p>.<p>"There is fear of small traders, but without breaking such institutional barriers, there is fear of food inflation. I am hoping we can make a beginning in these areas. These are some of the ideas that are uppermost in my mind," Singh said.<br /><br />The other big area of inter-ministerial differences relate to the minimum limit set for investment.</p>.<p>Of the USD 100 million (about Rs 450-460 crore) minimum investment proposed by the DIPP, at least 50 per cent has to be earmarked for back-end infrastructure like cold storage, soil testing labs and seed farming.<br /><br />However, the Consumer Affairs Ministry wants a larger share of 75 per cent of multi-brand retail FDI to be invested in back-end supply chains.<br /><br />"As India's back-end infrastructure is weak, the foreign investor should invest at least 75 per cent of the USD 100 million in it," the official said.</p>.<p>While the DIPP has floated another discussion paper on the subject, a Committee of Secretaries is going through the issue and is expected to meet again soon.<br /><br />The Industry Ministry has also proposed that multi-brand retail giants like Wal-Mart, Carrefour and Tesco may be allowed only in the 36 large cities which have population of over 1 million, according to the 2001 census.<br /><br />Retail giants like US-based Wal-Mart and French Carrefour are very keen to enter the segment.<br /><br />Bharti Enterprises and Wal-Mart Stores entered into a joint venture in August, 2007, and started cash-and-carry stores named 'BestPrice Modern Wholesale' in 2009.<br /><br />At present, 51 per cent FDI is permitted in single brand retail, while 100 per cent is allowed in the wholesale cash-and-carry segment.</p>
<p>"Starting with 49 per cent FDI in the sector would be a safe thing," a senior Consumer Affairs Ministry official told PTI.<br /><br />However, the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), which is piloting the proposal for the politically sensitive sector, is in favour of a majority stake (51 per cent) for foreign retail chains, with set-up conditionalities.<br />Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in his interaction with editors yesterday, said there is a "big debate about it" in government and Parliament.</p>.<p>"There is fear of small traders, but without breaking such institutional barriers, there is fear of food inflation. I am hoping we can make a beginning in these areas. These are some of the ideas that are uppermost in my mind," Singh said.<br /><br />The other big area of inter-ministerial differences relate to the minimum limit set for investment.</p>.<p>Of the USD 100 million (about Rs 450-460 crore) minimum investment proposed by the DIPP, at least 50 per cent has to be earmarked for back-end infrastructure like cold storage, soil testing labs and seed farming.<br /><br />However, the Consumer Affairs Ministry wants a larger share of 75 per cent of multi-brand retail FDI to be invested in back-end supply chains.<br /><br />"As India's back-end infrastructure is weak, the foreign investor should invest at least 75 per cent of the USD 100 million in it," the official said.</p>.<p>While the DIPP has floated another discussion paper on the subject, a Committee of Secretaries is going through the issue and is expected to meet again soon.<br /><br />The Industry Ministry has also proposed that multi-brand retail giants like Wal-Mart, Carrefour and Tesco may be allowed only in the 36 large cities which have population of over 1 million, according to the 2001 census.<br /><br />Retail giants like US-based Wal-Mart and French Carrefour are very keen to enter the segment.<br /><br />Bharti Enterprises and Wal-Mart Stores entered into a joint venture in August, 2007, and started cash-and-carry stores named 'BestPrice Modern Wholesale' in 2009.<br /><br />At present, 51 per cent FDI is permitted in single brand retail, while 100 per cent is allowed in the wholesale cash-and-carry segment.</p>