Track2Realty: The commercial property market has slowed down, considering it has a strong correlation with global and economic factors and performance. The office segment has seen a pronounced dip, with absorption levels in the two major markets of Mumbai and Delhi-NCR seeing a year-on-year slump of 47% and 26% respectively, as per industry sources.
To protest against the decision of the Union Government to allow FDI in multi-brand retail, the Confederation of All India Traders(CAIT) and Bharat Udyog Vyapar Mandal have called for a Bharat Trade Bandh on 20th September,2012 in which they claim that about 5 crore traders and more than 10 thousand trade associations across the Country will participate.The Traders have appealed all national and regional political parties to extend their support to Bharat Trade Bandh call.
The government’s decision to operationalise FDI in multi-brand retail would help the realty sector as the move would create demand for retail space and boost mall development in the country, real estate developers and property consultants said.
Terming the Government’s efforts to form consensus on FDI in multi-brand retail without consulting traders as ‘highly undemocratic’, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) today said foreign investments by MNCs will hijack the country’s retail trade which would lead to closure of majority of small businesses and job losses for lakhs of people engaged in the sector.
With FDI now permitted for multi-brand retailing in India, global retail giants are now zeroing in on India.
Retail chains across the country are signing up for space in a big way, after a long pause that had followed the economic downturn.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Analysis of West Zone (Mumbai)
The retail landscape across the western zone of the country has remained active through 2012. The sector performance was characterized by buoyant leasing activity from both Indian and international brands. As a result, in addition to expansion of Indian brands, many international retailers also set up their new outlets in the city. Moreover, the recent policy reforms, allowing FDI in multi-brand retail has improved overall sentiments in the sector.
Track2Realty: The acceptance of FDI in multi-brand retail is likely to accelerate building of shopping centres in the country, says Cushman & Wakefield.
The Economic Survey, while recognising the importance of the services sector (it accounts for 59 per cent of gross domestic product), has raised concern over the second largest economic activity–housing & real estate. Three months after the government rolled back its decision to allow 51 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail, the survey referred to it as a major challenge before the sector.
The much anticipated opening up of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail has renewed interest of several large international retailers in Indian retail market.