India loosens rules on some foreign retailers

Friday, January 6, 2012, Vol. 36, No. 1

NEW DELHI (AP) — The Indian government has formally agreed to allow foreign companies to own 100 percent of stores that sell a single brand.

The decision was among changes announced in November to bring more foreign investment into Indian retailing. The government quickly backtracked amid opposition to a change that would allow foreign companies like Wal-Mart to own 51 percent of supermarket chains.

The Commerce Ministry announced Tuesday it was formally allowing foreign companies that sell products under a single-brand name like IKEA to own 100 percent of their stores here.