RBI/2005/127
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 07
August 17, 2005
To,
All Banks Authorised to Deal in Foreign Exchange
Madam/Sir,
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
in Construction Development Sector
Attention of Authorised Dealer
(AD) banks is invited to Schedule I of Notification No. FEMA 20/2000-RB dated
May 3, 2000, as amended from time to time.
2. With a view to catalyzing
FDI in townships, housing, built-up infrastructure and construction development
projects, Government of India, (Ministry of Commerce & Industry), vide Press
Note 2 (2005) dated March 3, 2005, has decided to permit FDI upto 100 per cent
under the automatic route, in townships, housing, built-up infrastructure
and construction development projects (which would include, but not be restricted
to, housing, commercial premises, hotels, resorts, hospitals, educational institutions,
recreational facilities, city and regional level infrastructure), subject to
the guidelines mentioned therein.
3. Accordingly, Foreign Exchange
Management (Transfer or issue of Security by a Person Resident outside India)
Regulations 2000 notified vide Reserve Bank Notification No. FEMA 20/2000-RB
dated May 3, 2000, has been amended vide Notification No. FEMA 136/2005-RB dated
July 19, 2005 [Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or issue of Security by
a Person Resident outside India) (Third Amendment) Regulations 2005]. A copy
of the Government Notification G.S.R. No. 513(E) dated July 29, 2005 incorporating
the amendment is annexed.
4. Authorised Dealer banks may
bring the contents of this circular to the notice of their constituents/customers
concerned.
5. The directions contained
in this circular have been issued under Sections 10(4) and 11(1) of the Foreign
Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999) and are without prejudice to permissions/approvals,
if any, required under any other law.
Yours faithfully,
(Vinay Baijal)
Chief General Manager
Annex
[A.P. (DIR) Series Circular No. 07
dated August 17, 2005]
Notification No.FEMA. 136 /2005-RB dated July
19, 2005
Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer
or issue of Security by a Person Resident outside India) (Third Amendment) Regulations,
2005
In exercise of the powers conferred
by clause (b) of sub-section(3) of Section 6 and Section 47 of the Foreign Exchange
Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999) and in partial modification of its Notification
No.FEMA.20/2000-RB dated 3rd May 2000, the Reserve Bank of India
makes the following amendments in the Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer
or issue of Security by a Person Resident outside India) Regulations, 2000,
as amended from time to time, namely :
1. Short Title and Commencement
:-
i. These Regulations may be called
the Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or issue of Security by a Person Resident
outside India) (Third Amendment) Regulations, 2005.
ii. They shall come into force
from the date of their publication in the official gazette.
2. Amendment of the Regulations :-
In the Foreign Exchange Management
(Transfer or issue of Security by a Person Resident outside India) Regulations,
2000 in Annexure B the following shall be added :
Sector
|
Investment Cap
|
Description of Activity
/ Items / Conditions
|
(1)
|
(2)
|
(3)
|
23. Townships, housing, built-up
infrastructure and construction – development projects.
The sector would include,
but not be restricted to, housing, commercial premises, hotels, resorts,
hospitals, educational institutions, recreational facilities, city and
regional level infrastructure.
|
100%
|
The investment shall be subject
to the following guidelines :
(a) Minimum area to be developed
under each project shall be as under :
- In case of development of serviced housing
plots – 10 hectares.
- In case of construction – development
project - 50,000 sq.mtrs.
- In case of combination project, any one
of the above two conditions.
- The investment shall be subject to the
following conditions :
(i) Minimum capitalization
of US $ 10 Million for wholly owned subsidiaries and US $ 5 Million for
joint ventures with Indian partners. The funds would have to be brought
in within six months of commencement of business of the Company.
(ii) Original investment
cannot be repatriated before a period of three years from completion of
minimum capitalization.
However, the investor may be permitted to exit earlier with prior approval
of the Government through the FIPB.
- At least 50% of the project must be developed
within a period of five years from the date of obtaining all statutory
clearances. The investor shall not be permitted to sell undeveloped
plots.
- The project shall conform to the norms
and standards, as laid down in the applicable building control regulations,
bye-laws, rules, and other regulations of the State Government / Municipal
/ Local Body concerned.
- The investor shall be responsible for
obtaining all necessary approvals, including those of the building /
layout plans, developing internal and peripheral areas and other infrastructure
facilities, payment of development, external development and other charges
and complying with all other requirements as prescribed under applicable
rules / bye-laws / regulations of the State Government / Municipal /
Local Body concerned.
- The State Government / Municipal / Local
Body concerned, which approves the building / development plans, shall
monitor compliance of the above conditions by the developer.
Note: For the purpose
of these guidelines, "undeveloped plots" will mean where roads,
water supply, street lighting, drainage, sewerage, and other conveniences,
as applicable under prescribed regulations, have not been made available.
It will be necessary that the investor provides this infrastructure and
obtains the completion certificate from the concerned local body / service
agency before he would be allowed to dispose of serviced housing plots.
|
-sd/-
( Vinay Baijal )
Chief General Manager
Footnote : The Principal
Regulations were published in the Official Gazette vide G.S.R. No.406 (E) dated
May 8, 2000 in Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i) and subsequently amended
as under::
G.S.R.No. 158(E) dated 02.03.2001
G.S.R.No. 175(E) dated 13.03.2001
G.S.R.No. 182(E) dated 14.03.2001
G.S.R.No. 4(E) dated 02.01.2002
G.S.R.No. 574(E) dated 19.08.2002
G.S.R.No. 223(E) dated 18.03.2003
G.S.R.No. 225(E) dated 18.03.2003
G.S.R.No. 558(E) dated 22.07.2003
G.S.R.No. 835(E) dated 23.10.2003
G.S.R.No. 899(E) dated 22.11.2003
G.S.R.No. 12(E) dated 07.01.2004
G.S.R.No. 278(E) dated 23.04.2004
G.S.R.No. 454(E) dated 16.07.2004
G.S.R.No. 625(E) dated 21.09.2004
G.S.R.No. 799(E) dated 08.12.2004
G.S.R.No. 201(E) dated 01.04.2005
G.S.R.No. 202(E) dated 01.04.2005
G.S.R.No. 513(E) dated 29.07.2005
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