Development of Global Retail Business

  • An expert committee set up by the International Financial Services Authority (IFSCA) to suggest ways
    • for the development of international retail business in International Financial Services Centres (IFSC)
    • Has submitted its interim report to the Chairperson of the Authority.
  • This report — which focuses mainly on the banking vertical — suggests that
    • the Gujarat International Finance Tec, GIFT IFSC can aim at becoming a gateway to India growth story for international investors and business;
    • serving domestic residents availing liberalised remittance scheme and
    • Providing Indian diaspora and individuals from Asia and Africa with a comprehensive range of financial services from the IFSC.
  • There is an immense immediate potential to promote international retail business in IFSC, and if done efficiently, it will meet three key objectives –
    • Boost job creation, generate additional revenue for India, and attract funds (especially from the Indian diaspora) for building India’s infrastructure.
  • This expert committee would cover other key business verticals —
    • Insurance, asset management and capital markets in subsequent reports.
  • Government had constituted the IFSCA with Injeti Srinivas, a retired IAS officer and former MCA Secretary, to develop and regulate the financial services market in the IFSC in India.
  • Apart from channelising India’s offshore business to the IFSC located at GIFT City and making it the gateway for India-centric international financial services,
    • The objective is to make it a global hub for international financial services on the lines of London, Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai.