The Union Budget 2013-14 has outlined several initiatives to boost investment in infrastructure and industry, that inter-alia include encouraging Infrastructure Debt Funds, credit enhancement to infrastructure companies, raising the corpus of Rural Infrastructure Development Fund, introduction of investment allowance for new high value investments etc. Minister of State for Finance, Namo Narain Meena informed this in the Lok Sabha recently
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NHB to raise funds through ECB
In order to lend to low-cost housing projects, National Housing Bank (NHB) plans to raise $200 million through external commercial borrowing (ECB) in 2013-14. The NHB plans to seek approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for raising the amount through ECB. In 2012-13, the housing finance regulator could raise funds under ECB as the approval from RBI came in the latter
Suryoday may get $11 mn capital infusion from IFC
Pune-based micro finance institution Suryoday Microfinance may get $11 million funding from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in order to expand its operations. The private sector investment arm of the World Bank considers to infuse the capital in the microfinance firm through external commercial borrowing (ECB) route in the form of quasi-equity and senior
External debt expands 8.9% between March and December 2012
A government statement showed that the country's total external debt rose $30.8 billion or 8.9 percent to $376.3 billion as of December 31, 2012 from $345.5 billion at end-March 2012. The rise in the external debt is attributed to long-term and short-term components of debt. While trade related credits increased short-term debt of the country, long-term debt rose mainly on account of NRI deposits and c
India Inc’s overseas borrowing rises in January
Data from Reserve Bank of India (RBI) shows that overseas borrowing of Indian companies rose to $3.51 billion in January from $1.15 billion in the previous month. The companies raised the amount through external commercial borrowings (ECB) and foreign currency convertible bonds (FCCB). In order to fund its projects, Power Grid Corporation of In India Inc raised over $ 3.51 billion from overseas markets in January through external commercial borrowings and foreign currency convertible bonds.
I
RBI allows Essar Oil to raise $2.2 bn via ECB
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) allowed Essar Oil to mop up a maximum of $2.2 billion through external commercial borrowings in order to repay partially its debt of $2.8 billion. The company is said to be in discussion with banks to raise the amount as it got the required approval. The company. however, has not finalized the amount to be raise
RBI allows infra finance firms to borrow more via EBCs
Infrastructure finance companies can raise funds upto 75 per cent of their net worth through external commercial borrowing (ECB) without seeking clearance from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). This is because the central bank liberalised the norm in or
HPCL to raise $350 mn via issue of bonds
Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) plans to raise around $350 million this year through issue of bonds to overseas investors, reports suggest. While the company is working on raising $400 million in external commercial borrowings (ECB), it plans to raise another $350 million through issue of bonds to overseas investors. HPCL is reportedly securing ratings for the bond issue
Mining: Free up hi-tech imports
The government should permit duty free import of high capacity equipment reqÂuired for underground mining, and faciÂlitate land, shifting of utilities, environment clearance, cutting of trees, etc.
A new opportunity to participate in Indian infrastructure
The government is finally preparing to launch its first IDF this year, albeit with a $3 billion corpus open to domestic investors alone. Vishal Shah and Smit Sheth hail IDF as a good beginning, but contend that the definition of infrastructure needs to be sharpened.