Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Dr.C.Murukadas, ET, 25 Sep, 2012 FDI in retail: Walmart Asia CEO rejects LK Advani's statement




Advani is not wrong in any sense. In many areas in America particularly Chicago, New York, Los Angles all have issues with Wall-Mart’s low wages and its impact on local mom and pops which it tends to wipe out the moment it sets up a store.  A bout 73% of NY residents voted against Walmart in NYC.  When Wall-Mart is considered to be bad for USA economy due to jobs loss, and bad for family because of low wages, how can it be expected to be good for. It actually procures junks products from and distribute in America and elsewhere.  Where is the guarantee that it will not do the same in India?
Wall-Mart already has a joint venture with Bharati. It is alleged that Bharti-Walmart is illegally carrying out multi-brand retail trade despite being permitted only to carry out wholesale cash and-carry or wholesale trade in the country. On the basis of the suit filed by environmental activist Vandana Shiva, the Delhi High Court sought replies of the Centre, Bharti-Walmart and Bharti Retail on a plea for a probe against the firms for allegedly carrying out retail trading in the multi-brand sector in violation of India’s existing FDI policy. Thus, even before getting permission to operate Wall-Mart has violated Indian rules and regulations has unlawfully involved in multi-brand retail trading. Will Wall-Mart and other multinational retail giants respect Indian laws once permission is granted to operate multiband retail stores?
Moreover, if Wall-Mart or Tesco set shop in New Delhi and may source products to the neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, Haryana or Punjab. And in keeping with the mandate to invest at least 50 per cent of the FDI component in back-end infrastructure, Wall-Mart ,Tesco or others  will have to invest in manufacturing and processing facilities, cold storage and other logistics in neigbouring states.  Therefore, indirectly they are permitted to operate in a state which has not permitted FDI in retail trade.
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