Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Commerce & Industry

23-August-2012 19:32 IST

The Union Cabinet has approved the following revised equity structure of Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (DMICDC):

• Share of Government of India : 49% or less;

• Share of Government owned Financial Institution of Japan, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIG) : 26%; and

• Share of Financial Institutions owned by the Government of India: 25% or more

No financial implications will be involved after the revised equity structure on the part of Government of India.

DMIC Project being a strategic partnership project between Government of India and Government of Japan, participation of the Government of Japan in DMICDC will enable the DMIC project to leverage the active assistance and cooperation of the Government of Japan. Subscription in the equity of DMICDC will increase the confidence of Japanese companies in the project and strengthen the ties with the Government of Japan. This may also enable the dispatch of Japanese experts to DMICDC. Long term financing institutions in Japan like pension funds have limited experience in India and 26% equity would give them comfort level and a feeling of participation in the project. This would open up possibilities for long term infrastructure lending at lower rates.

Background:

The Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) project was conceived as a symbol of Indo-Japan strategic partnership during the visit of the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India to Tokyo in December, 2006. The Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) is being developed as a global manufacturing and investment destination utilising the high capacity 1483 km long western Dedicated Railway Freight Corridor (DFC), as the backbone. As approved by the Cabinet on 16th August 2007, Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (DMICDC) was incorporated on 7th January, 2008 with authorized equity base of Rs.10 Crore (49% equity participation by Gol, 41% by IL&FS and 10% by I DFC) for developing projects, coordinating the implementation of the numerous projects and also raising finances, wherever needed.

Subsequently, in the meeting held on 15th September, 2011, the Union Cabinet approved the restructuring of DMICDC with Government of India equity capped at 49% of the total equity and the Government owned Financial Institutions as majority shareholders. In pursuance of the above approval, India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL) and Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) took over the equity held by IL & FS Ltd and IDFC respectively, at par, thereby substituting private Financial Institutions in DMICDC with Government owned Financial Institutions.

In the meantime, a request was received from the Government of Japan for 26% participation in the equity of DMICDC. During the Japanese Prime Minister's visit to India in December, 2011, Japan offered to match Government of India's contribution to DMIC Project by announcing a contribution of US$ 4.5 billion for projects with Japanese participation. The equity contribution to an extent of 26% would give them comfort level and a feeling of participation and involvement in the project.

***

SC/SKS/SM

Equity restructuring enables foreign government participation to strengthen strategic partnership and mobilise long term finance for infrastructure projects. Approval of a revised DMICDC equity structure caps Government of India equity at a minority level, establishes significant participation by a foreign government owned financial institution and majority ownership by Government owned financial institutions, and states there will be no additional financial implications for the Government of India. The change is intended to strengthen bilateral cooperation, attract foreign investor confidence, enable technical cooperation and expert engagement, and open possibilities for long term infrastructure financing while preserving limited direct fiscal exposure.