FDI touches $4 bn in 2001/2002

NEW DELHI: FDI inflow amounting to $4.06 billion has registered a 66 per cent growth in 2001-02 compared to previous year''s $2.46 billion, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Tuesday.
The record increase has taken place a time when global FDI flows have declined by over 40 per cent in 2001, the minister of state for commerce and industry said in a written reply.
Stating that FDI inflows have by and large registered a consistent growth since 1991, he said the government has taken various initiatives to step up FDI inflows to ensure accelerated economic growth.
Export of Agricultural Products: Agricultural exports recorded an increase of Rs.1894 crore during 2001-02 over the previous year, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Rajiv Pratap Rudy said in a written reply.
While exports excluding marine products, tea, coffee, cotton and castor oil stood at Rs.18,667 crore during 2001-02, the amount was Rs.16,773 crore in 2000-01, he said, adding the government had initiated various measures to reduce export cost of agricultural products to make them more competitive in the international market.
Entry of foreign agencies in education: The government has not signed any protocol approving the entry of foreign agencies in education at primary, secondary and tertiary levels and in vocational training, Rudy said in reply to another question.