NEW ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESS IN INDIA & ROLE OF CAs a presentation for ICAI BIKANER CHAPTER DR. T.K. JAIN AFTERSCHO☺OL
– DEVELOPING CHANGE MAKERS CENTRE FOR SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP PGPSE PROGRAMME – World’ Most Comprehensive programme in social entrepreneurship & spiritual entrepreneurship OPEN FOR ALL FREE FOR ALL
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Phases of Indian Economy 19471980 ●
Command and Control Economy ● Allocation of resources by the Government (budgetary grants) ● ● ● ●
Government took active part in setting priorities for the economy SelfReliance was the buzz word Nationalisation of Banks Limited scope for private participation
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Phases of Indian Economy 19912000 ●
Liberalization and Globalization of Indian Economy ●
Increased emphasis on private sector participation
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Limited extent of FDI participation
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Gradual improvement in the enabling environment
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Phases of Indian Economy post 2000 ●
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Political Coalitions have started providing stable governments Government to get out of owning and managing businesses: Disinvestment Policy Gradual relaxation in the FDI Policy
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Progressive Liberalisation Pre1991
FDI was allowed selectively up to 40% under FERA This period was dominated by the Congress party
1991
35 high priority industry groups were placed on the Automatic Route for FDI up to 51% Minority Congress government: Initiated economic reforms in a big way
1997
Automatic Route expanded to 111 high priority industry groups up to 100%/ 74%/ 51%/50% United Front Government: Inclusive of ‘left parties’, was perceived as traditionally opposed to FDI, but continued with the reforms.
2000
All sectors placed on the Automatic Route for FDI except for a small negative list BJP coalition government:(coalition of Left and Right wing parties) was traditionally seen as opposed to FDI, but continued with economic reforms.
Post 2000
Many new sectors opened to FDI; viz., insurance (26%), integrated townships (100%), mass rapid transit systems (100%), defence industry (26%), tea plantations (100%), print media (26%). Sectoral caps in many other sectors relaxed; BJP coalition government: pursued reforms vigorously and initiated second generation reforms. www.afterschoool.tk
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Consensus on Economic Liberalisation ●
Change in perception ●
Indian Business Houses
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Government
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Legal Framework: shift from a Positive List to a Negative List (FERA FEMA)
Gradually all sectors moving to ‘Choice’ and ‘Competition’ (Multiple Player Model)
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Present Picture India: Fourth largest economy in terms of Purchasing Power Parity ● Tenth most industrialized economy ● GDP growth rate of 8.1% Second highest in the world. ● Considerable improvement in FDI inflows ● FII inflows: ●
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For the period, July 2003 – Jan 2004 FII inflow has exceeded USD 7 bn, which is more than the cumulative FII inflow in the last five years.
Still a big gap between India and China www.afterschoool.tk
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The Industrial Policy Industrial Licensing ●
All Industrial undertakings exempt from obtaining an industrial license to manufacture, except for: Industries reserved for the Public Sector ● Industries retained under compulsory licensing ● Items of manufacture reserved for the Small Scale Sector ● If the proposal attracts locational restriction ●
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Industrial Entrepreneur Memorandum www.afterschoool.tk
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The Industrial Policy
Industries reserved for the Public Sector: (1) Atomic Energy and (2) Railway Transport ● Compulsory licensing needed in the following industries: ●
Distillation and brewing of alcoholic drinks ● Cigars and cigarettes and manufactured tobacco substitutes ● Electronic aerospace and defence equipment of all types ● Industrial explosives including detonating fuses, safety fuses, gun powder, nitrocellulose and matches ● Certain hazardous chemicals ●
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The Industrial Policy Locational Policy Industrial undertakings are free to select the location ● Location to be 25 km away from any city with a million strong population ●
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Exceptions:
When located in an area designated as an “Industrial Area” before the 25th July, 1991. ● Electronics, Computer Software and Printing (and any other industry which may be notified in future as ‘non polluting industry’). ●
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The Industrial Policy Small Scale Industries ●
Suitable for Foreign Investment? ●
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Cap on Investment in fixed assets (plant and machinery) is Rs. 10 million (approx. SGD 3,70,000)
Not more than 24 per cent of total equity can be held by any industrial undertaking either foreign or domestic Upon such equity exceeding 24% the SSI status is lost. CarryonBusiness (COB) Licence required.
Various items reserved exclusively for SSIs.
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The Entry Process: Automatic Route ●
All items/activities for FDI investment up to 100% fall under the Automatic Route except the following: ● ●
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All proposals that require an Industrial Licence. All proposals in which the foreign collaborator has a previous venture/ tie up in India. All proposals relating to acquisition of existing shares in an existing Indian Company by a foreign investor. All proposals falling outside notified sectoral policy/ caps or under sectors in which FDI is not permitted.
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The Entry Process: Government Approval FIPB Approval For all activities, which are not covered under the Automatic Route ● Composite approvals involving foreign investment/ foreign technical collaboration ● Published Transparent Guidelines vs. Earlier Case by Case Approach ● Downstream Investment ●
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Subsequent Investment in the same or allied field Press Note 18 ●
No Automatic Route for FDI and/or technology collaboration for those who have or had any previous joint venture/technology transfer/ trade mark agreement in the same or allied field. ● ●
Same field : Four digit NIC 1987 Code Allied field : Three digit NIC 1987 Code.
IT Sector & International Financial Institutions exempted. ● New Trend: FIPB examines objections by the earlier partner objectively. ●
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Acquisition of shares in a Listed Company Takeover Code • Acquisition of more than specified equity stakes would entail public offer • Pricing: Average of 26 weeks or 2 weeks, whichever is higher • No takeover of management before completion of Takeover Code formalities
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Other modes of Foreign Direct Investment GDR, ADR, FCCB
Indian Companies allowed to raise equity capital in the international market through the issue of GDRs/ ADRs/FCCBs. ● No ceiling on investment ●
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Other modes of Foreign Direct Investment GDR, ADR, FCCB (Contd.) ● No enduse restrictions on GDR/ ADR/ FCCB issue proceeds ● Except Investment in real estate ● Stock markets. ●
Government clearance required when sectoral cap is exceeded, or for a project not falling under Automatic Route. ● 25% of the FCCB proceeds can be used for general corporate restructuring. ●
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Foreign Technology Collaboration ●
Foreign technology collaborations are permitted either through the automatic route or by the Government.
Policy for Automatic Approval ●
To all industries for foreign technology collaboration agreements, irrespective of the extent of foreign equity in the shareholding, subject to: ●
The lump sum payments not exceeding US $ 2 Million;
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Foreign Technology Collaboration Policy for Automatic approval (contd.) ●
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Royalty payable being limited to 5 per cent for domestic sales and 8 per cent for exports, subject to a total payment of 8 per cent on sales No restriction on the duration of the royalty payments The aforesaid royalty limits are net of taxes and are calculated according to standard conditions.
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Foreign Technology Collaboration Policy for Automatic approval (contd.) ●
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Payment of royalty up to 2% for exports and 1% for domestic sales is allowed under automatic route on use of trademarks and brand name of the foreign collaborator without technology transfer. Registration of FC Agreement with RBI.
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ROUTES FOR MNCs ●
Forms in which Business can be conducted in India • Wholly owned subsidiary • Joint Venture Company • Branch Office • Project Office
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India Presence: Liaison Office
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Joint Venture ●
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Advantages ●
Limited liability
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Market Penetration
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Local Partner’s Expertise and Experience
Vital Considerations ●
Choice of Joint Venture Partner
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Due Diligence
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Joint Venture ●
Vital Considerations (Contd.) ●
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Clearly defined agreement Terms of the Shareholders’ Agreement should be reflected in the Articles of the Company.
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Share Transfer Restriction in a Public Limited Company
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Disproportionate voting Rights: Veto
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Noncompete
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Joint Venture ●
Vital Considerations (Contd.) ●
Agreement for future issue of share capital
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Dispute Resolution
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Nondisclosure of confidential information post termination
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Branch Office ●
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Purpose/Viability of a Branch Office ●
Represent the business interest of foreign company
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For the purpose of execution of the Project
Project Office is in the nature of a Branch Office set up for a particular project.
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Facilitating FDI in India Emergence of Independent Regulators
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Regulators under consideration: Petroleum, Railways, Information and Broadcasting
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Regulator to curb AntiCompetitive Practices
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Government Directives
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Labour laws – changes ●
Move towards: hire and fire
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Progressive use of discretionary executive powers ● ● ● ●
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Permissions granted for closure of unviable units Inspections only upon workers’ grievances Voluntary Retirement Schemes EPZs, SEZs etc may be exempted from application of certain labour laws Amendment to Industrial Disputes Act under consideration Amendment to Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act, 1970 under consideration.
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Incentives for investment in Telecom Sector
Movement towards technology neutral Unified Licensing Regime ● Permission for InterCircle & IntraCircle Mergers ● Exemplary growth in teledensity, subscriber base etc. ● Companies commencing operations before 31st March, 2004, would enjoy tax benefits: ●
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100% deduction for first five years 30% deduction for next five years
Exemption from tax on interest income and long term capital gains in certain cases ● Import duty rates have been reduced for various telecom equipment www.afterschoool.tk 28 ●
Investment Incentive for IT Industry ●
Software companies have a ten year tax holiday on their export income
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In 1998 the Government set up a new Ministry of Information Technology
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The Information Technology Act, 2000 was passed to tackle cyber crimes and facilitate ecommerce
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Incentives for Investment in Power Sector New Legal Regime: Electricity Act, 2003 ● The Act provides for: Multiple Buyer Model, Independent Regulatory Body, Open Access, Power Trading as an independent business, delicensing of generation ● 100% FDI Automatic Route in: ●
Hydroelectric power plants; ● Coal/lignite based thermal power plants; ● Oil/gas based thermal power plants. ●
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Incentives for Investment in Power Sector ●
Other investment incentives: New Power Projects eligible for 100% tax holiday in any block of ten years, within first fifteen years of operation. ● The Deadline for income tax exemption for new power projects extended from 2006 to 2012. ● Various indirect tax incentives: ●
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Concessional rate of import duties Special project import scheme Deemed export benefit for certain categories of power projects. www.afterschoool.tk
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Reforms in Financial Sector ● ●
FIIs allowed in Capital Market, can invest both in Debt and Equity FDI cap in private sector banks raised to 74% ● 10% cap on voting rights
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The Mutual Fund market is also open now to foreign players.
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Equity issue pricing is market determined
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FDI in Real Estate: Policy & Issues ●
Press Note 4 (2002 Series) ●
100% FDI under Automatic Route PERMITTED FOR Integrated Townships, subject to following conditions: ● ●
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Foreign company to be registered as Indian company under Companies Act, 1956 Core Business Integrated Township Development with a successful track record. Minimum area of development: 100 acres as per local bylaws/rules. In absence of such by laws/rules, minimum of 2000 dwelling houses for about 10,000 population to be developed by the investor. Conditions post acceptance of FDI proposal
Minimum capitalization norms Upfront payment Minimum lockin period Time bound completion of project
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FDI in Hotel and Tourism:Policy and Issues 100% FDI under Automatic Route ● “Hotel” includes Restaurant, beach resorts and other tourist complexes providing accommodation and/or Catering ● “Tourism related industries” includes travel agencies, tour operating agencies, units providing facilities for cultural, adventure and wild life experience to tourists; surface, air and water transport facilities to tourists; leisure, entertainment, amusement, sports and health units for tourists and Convention/ Seminar units and organizations. ● Automatic approval for Technical, Consultancy, Marketing, Publicity, Managerial services subject to specified limits. ●
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CHANGING ROLE OF CAs ●
Greater caution in audit
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IT and system Audit
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Greater scope of consultancy business
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Build climate for corporate governance, ethical management
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Scope for best practices
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Thank You
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