Government of India Ministry of Commerce & Industry Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (FC Section) Press Note

No.8 (2009 Series)

Fdi Policy
Subject: Liberalization of Foreign Technology Agreement policy The existing policy of Government of India on the payment of royalties under Foreign Technology Collaboration provides for automatic approval for foreign technology transfers involving payment of lumpsum fee of US$ 2 million and payment of royalty of 5% on domestic sales and 8% on exports. In addition, where there is no technology transfer involved, royalty up to 2% for exports and 1% for domestic sales is allowed under automatic route on use of trademarks and brand names of the foreign collaborator. Separate norms are available for the hotel sector vide Press Note 18 (1991 Series) and Press Note 1 (1995 Series). Technology transfers involving payments above these limits required prior permission of the Government of India (Project Approval Board, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion). 2. The Government of India has reviewed the extant policy and it has been decided to permit, with immediate effect, payments for royalty, lumpsum fee for transfer of technology and payments for use of trademark/brand name on the automatic route i.e. without any approval of the Government of India. All such payments will be subject to Foreign Exchange Management (Current Account Transactions) Rules, 2000 as amended from time to time. 3. A suitable post-reporting system for technology transfer/ collaborations and use of trade mark/ brand name will be notified by the Government separately. 4. These guidelines issue in modification of provisions relating to foreign technology proposals/approvals contained in paragraph 3 of Press Note 10 (1991), para 7 of Press Note 11 (1991), para 4 & 5 (a) of Press Note 12 (1991), para 2-6 of Press Note 20 (1991), para 2 of Press Note 5 (1992), para 4 of Press Note 4 (1994), para 3 of Press Note 18 (1997) and paragraphs III and IV of Press Note 9 (2000). These guidelines will issue in supersession of provisions of Press Note 18 (1991), Press Note 4 (1992), Press Note 1 (1995), Press Note 4 (1996), Press Note 1 (2002) and Press Note 2 (2003).

Gopal Krishnan
Joint Secretary to the Government of India 0/0 IPP F. No. 5(6)/2008-FC Dated 16.12.2009 Copy forwarded to: 1. Press Information Officer, Press Information Bureau- for giving wide publicity to the Above Press Note. 2. BE Section for uploading the Press Note on 01PP's website. 3. PAB Section,DIPP About Lexvalorem: Lex Valorem is a corporate consulting services company offering legal and company secretarial services to corporate during their various growth phases. Our clients belong to various sectors such as IT, ITES, Engineering, Aerospace, Retail, Manufacturing etc. and range from entrepreneurial start ups to existing companies that are JVs, wholly owned foreign subsidiaries and professional Indian promoter driven. Corporate Legal Services | India Entry Services | Foreign Trade Advice | Foreign Direct Investment