44. Progressive liberalization has taken place in the provisions relating to foreign investment. I propose to take the following further measures:

l Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) can invest in a company under the portfolio investment route up to 24 per cent of the paid up capital of the company. This can be increased to 40 per cent with the approval of the General Body of the shareholders by a special resolution. I propose to increase this limit to 49 per cent.

l Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) is permitted on a case by case basis upto 100 per cent but with a condition that a minimum of 25 per cent of their holding is divested in the domestic market. This condition is being removed, provided the foreign investors bring in a minimum of US $50 million. FDI in NBFCs will now be put on the automatic route subject to RBI guidelines.