Friday, October 5, 2012

FDI for Banks

The PM last week announced scores of measures that will allow FDI in retail, aviation, power exchanges and others. Well according to me, all these measures are aimed at reducing the exposure of Banks towards this sectors.  If you see the power sector, the current reforms does not penalize the State Electricity Boards but convert their loans taken from Banks into long terms bonds which will be paid by states at a later date.  The exposure to aviation sector is already high.  The private sector banks (read ICICI) has already reduced its exposure to aviation sector by selling the loan to private investor.  The Public sector banks (PSBs)are not that lucky in that aspect.  The PSBs acts on the whims and fancy of the local politicians.  They also consider every public utility as their own.  Instead of rolling out their own purse strings they ask the public utility to shell out benefits which the politicians claim as their own.  Consider the current example of Oil and Gas subsidy given by ONGC and OIL India to the Refiners (BPCL, HPCL, Indian Oil).  Instead of Government paying subsidy as per their claims they are asking ONGC and OIL India to pay the subsidy for selling it for less the cost price.  These subsidies are making ONGC and OIL India bankrupt and they are not adding any new reserves as they don't have money to explore new regions.

  

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