Title: FDI in India's retail trade

Authors: Leena Ajit Kaushal

Addresses: Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurgaon, Mehrauli Road, Sukhrali, Gurugram, India

Abstract: The paper examines the political stand of holding back 100% FDI in multi-brand retail in India on the ground of safeguarding un-organised sector, the Kiranas. The study argues that this fear is largely unfounded by highlighting the dual nature of retail sector where foreign retailers operating through super markets cater mainly to the upper income groups with a demand for differentiated products leaving the market for undifferentiated and relatively low price goods to the Kiranas who cater the lower income groups mostly in the rural areas. The study hence proposes that the foreign owned firms in the retail sector are most unlikely to pose a threat to the Kiranas rather they may facilitate the sales of the Kiranas.

Keywords: foreign direct investment; FDI; retail; organised retail; India; multi-brand retail.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBG.2019.098730

International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2019 Vol.22 No.2, pp.143 - 153

Received: 25 Apr 2017
Accepted: 19 May 2017
Published online: 02 Apr 2019 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article