IRDA for hike in insurance FDI ceiling to 49%
October 03, 2012 14:30
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority on Wednesday said it favoured increase in foreign direct investment in the sector to 49 per cent, saying it requires big investments for growth.
"Absolutely (in favour of hike in FDI limit). I do think unless we go for 49 per cent, we will not have the kind of capital required to underpin the growth of insurance industry," IRDA Chairman J Hari Narayan said on the sidelines of a CII
event here.
"This sector requires lot of money, so unless we enable inflow... Look at it, in banks it (FDI) is 74 per cent. In Asset Management Companies, 100 per cent. I do not see why, in insurance companies, it should be 26 per cent. We should increase that," he said.
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the insurance sector is capped at 26 per cent.
With the government taking policy reform initiatives last week, especially allowing FDI in multi-brand retail and aviation sectors, there is expectation that the limit for the insurance industry may be raised as well.
However, the recent decision led to political uncertainty with Trinamool Congress, a key ally of the UPA, quitting the government.
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