Govt not to launch overseas dollar bonds; may relax ECB norms

NEW DELHI: Government on Wednesday ruled out launching of dollar-denominated bonds but indicated that it may further relax overseas borrowing norms and raise FII investment limit in debt instruments to help companies tide over the liquidity crunch created by global financial crisis.

"There is no proposal to launch sovereign long-term dollar-denominated bonds as of now," a finance ministry official said when asked whether the government is planning to hit the overseas market to raise funds.

However, the finance ministry is considering further liberalisation of external commercial borrowings (ECB) norms for companies besides raising FII limits in Indian debt market.

At present, FIIs are allowed to invest in the Indian debt market up to 8 bn dollars, of which 3 bn dollars can be invested in corporate debts and 5 bn dollars in government securities.

Yesterday, the government included mining, exploration and refinery sectors under the ambit of infrastructure so that they can access overseas borrowings more liberally up to 500 mn dollars into India for rupee capital expenditure.

Infrastructure includes seven sectors - power, telecommunication, railways, road, sea port and airport industrial parks and urban infrastructure (water supply, sanitation and sewage projects).