- The tax structure in India favors small retail business
- Lack of adequate infrastructure facilities
- High cost of real estate
- Dissimilarity in consumer groups
- Restrictions in Foreign Direct Investment
- Shortage of retail study options
- Shortage of trained manpower
- Low retail management skill
The Future:
The retail industry in India is currently growing at a great pace and is expected to go up to US$ 833 billion by the year 2013. It is further expected to reach US$ 1.3 trillion by the year 2018 at a CAGR of 10%. As the country has got a high growth rates, the consumer spending has also gone up and is also expected to go up further in the future. In the last four year, the consumer spending in India climbed up to 75%. As a result, the India retail industry is expected to grow further in the future days. By the year 2013, the organized sector is also expected to grow at a CAGR of 40%.
Retail and Recession:
The global economic slump has had its impact on the India retail sector. One of the earliest players in the Indian retail scenario Subhiksha's operations came to a near standstill and required liquidity injection. Vishal Retail secured corporate debt restructuring (CDR) plan from its lenders while other players like the Reliance Retail run by Mukesh Ambani and Pantaloon led Kishore Biyani by went slow on expansion plans and even scaled down operations. However, during the last quarter a bit of confidence was restored as the economy showed signs of growth. Future Trends:
- Lifestyle International, a division of Landmark Group, plans to have more than 50 stores across India by 2012–13.
- Shoppers Stop has plans to invest 250 crore to open 15 new supermarkets in the coming three years.
- Pantaloon Retail India (PRIL) plans to invest US$ 77.88 million this fiscal to add up to existing 2.4 million sq ft retail space. PRIL intends to set up 155 Big Bazaar stores by 2014, raising its total network to 275 stores.
- Timex India will open another 52 stores by March 2011 at an investment of US$ 1.3 million taking its total store count to 120. In the first six months of the current fiscal ending September 30, 2009, the company has recorded a net profit of US$ 1.2 million.
- Australia's Retail Food Group is planning to enter the Indian market in 2010. It has plans to clock US$ 87 million revenue in five years. In 20 years they expect the India operations to be larger than the Australia operations.
The Road Ahead:
Industry experts predict that the next phase of growth in the retail sector will emerge fro m the rural markets. By 2012 the rural retail market is projected to have a total of more than 50 per cent market share. The total number of shopping malls is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of over 18.9 per cent by 2015.
India will announce new rules for foreign investment in retail by April 2012, paving the way for companies such as Wal-Mart Stores and Carrefour to open stores, according to Junior Trade Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. A government panel has issued a report that recommends easing a law that prohibits non-Indian companies from operating multi-brand outlets. Allowing foreign investment in multi-brand retail may help moderate food prices, said Kaushik Basu, chief economic adviser in the finance ministry, who sits on the panel.
India currently allows 51 per cent FDI in single-brand retail and 100 per cent in wholesale cash-and-carry operations.
In a landmark decision, the government has eased norms for investments by foreign companies that are present in India through a joint venture (JV) or a technical collaboration. Now, the foreign company will not have to seek a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Indian partner for investing in the sector where the joint venture operates. The government has also relaxed norms for downstream investments and convertible instruments, giving foreign companies more powers. The changes are part of the third revision of the Consolidated FDI Policy.
|
Participants