100% FDI in Cold Storage

100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is allowed under automatic route in storage and warehousing including warehousing of agriculture products with refrigeration (cold storage). Also, the existing policy allows for 51 % Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), in only single brand retail trade, subject to specified conditions. Government has received suggestions from associations, trade bodies for allowing FDI in multi brand retail. The objective is to enhance the operational efficiency of back-¬end infrastructure in the retail sector, reduce wastage in the agricultural sector, enhance benefit to producers, integrate the retailer in the value chain and benefit consumers through greater competition. Towards this end, the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion has released a Discussion Paper titled "Foreign Direct Investment in Multi¬-Brand Retail Trading", with the aim of generating informed discussion on the subject and obtaining the views and comments of various stakeholders.

This information was given by Shri Arun Yadav, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.