Mar. 22 – Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma announced plans last week to develop India as one of the world’s leading manufacturing workshops with plans to soon release a new foreign investment policy directive at the end of the month to stimulate investment.

Indian industry is dominated by the service sector and there are concerns that the economy is unbalanced as a result. A manufacturing policy document to encourage the development of India’s manufacturing sector is expected in autumn coinciding with a planned visit to India by U.S. President Barack Obama.

India will establish national investment and manufacturing zones to attract more FDI and offer attractive tax incentives. The first such zone to come online will be on the Delhi-Mumbai corridor in Rajasthan.

The new issue of India Briefing contains details of India’s Special Economic and Free Trade Zones including applicable tax breaks and investment incentives.