Business

Faster KYC, nods key to boosting FDI flows

By Sohail Khan 28 August 2026, 12:29 am

Benchmarks
Nifty24,090.85-116.91

Precious Metal
Gold (MCX) (Rs/10g.)159,189.00-474.0

Enter search text:

Business News›News›Economy›Foreign Trade›Faster KYC, nods key to boosting FDI flows: Piyush Goyal

Read Today's Paper

Faster KYC, nods key to boosting FDI flows: Piyush Goyal
Synopsis

The minister was speaking at the end of his official visit to Japan, where he held a series of high-level engagements aimed at accelerating Japanese investment in India, strengthening industrial partnerships and expanding bilateral economic cooperation across emerging and strategic sectors. "Our focus is on process and procedures… there are very few sectors where FDI is restricted but we are open to ideas whatever industry demands… during these engagements here, new ideas have come up," Goyal said.

Faster KYC, Nods Key to Boosting FDI Flows: Goyal

Osaka: Faster and more efficient know-your-customer (KYC) norms, mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) with regulators in other countries and streamlined investment approvals can speed up foreign direct investment (FDI) flows and give investors greater comfort, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday.

The minister was speaking at the end of his official visit to Japan, where he held a series of high-level engagements aimed at accelerating Japanese investment in India, strengthening industrial partnerships and expanding bilateral economic cooperation across emerging and strategic sectors. "Our focus is on process and procedures… there are very few sectors where FDI is restricted but we are open to ideas whatever industry demands… during these engagements here, new ideas have come up," Goyal said.

Total FDI, including equity inflows, reinvested earnings and other capital, rose 17% year on year to $94.5 billion in FY26. "More importantly, there is tremendous scope to improve process and procedures to help faster flow of FDI and help give comfort to the investors… the fact that their investments will lead to production and productivity will be faster," he said. On manufacturing, Goyal said his effort was to achieve end-to-end upstream and downstream indigenisation, along with businesses that are either operating in India or coming to India.

Asked about rejecting the idea of India being viewed merely as a "plus one" destination, Goyal said: "It's not that we are dependent on people moving out of one geography". India's goods exports to China in April-July FY27 were $7.78 billion, up 35.97% year on year while imports were $52.71 billion, compared with $40.65 billion a year earlier. "When new technologies come and new (trade) relationships are made, then automatically the over-dependence on China will reduce," he said.

Alternative routes

Goyal said Gulf countries were looking at their eastern shore and creating new routes from there, leading to the development of new pipelines and railway lines. "Some people are creating alternate routes. All our imports continue to come or exports continue to go from other routes, otherwise we wouldn't have had such a fabulous performance in the first four months," he said. India's goods exports rose 15% year on year in the first three weeks of August to around $25 billion, an official said. Exports in April-August 21, 2026, are almost $200 billion. Goyal said "a lot of people are asking us to consider" India joining the 12-member Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), but "we have not yet really applied our mind".

Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source
Add Now!

(You can now subscribe to our WhatsApp channel)

(You can now subscribe to our WhatsApp channel)

Read More News on
Piyush Goyal(KYC) normsforeign direct investmentCPTPPFTAJapan

Enter search text:

Continue reading with one of these options:
Limited Access
Free
Login to get access to some exclusive stories

& personalised newsletters
Login Now

Unlimited Access
Starting @ Rs120/month
Get access to exclusive stories, expert opinions &

in-depth stock reports
Subscribe Now

Unlock Access to All Exclusives with ETPrime FREE TRIAL

15 Days Free: Unlock All ETPrime Exclusives, Market Tools & ePapers

Trial offer expiring in00 : 05 : 00

I'd rather pay ₹2599 now

Uh-oh! This is an exclusive story available for selected readers only.

Worry not. You’re just a step away.

Prime Account Detected!

It seems like you're already an ETPrime member with

Log out of your current logged-in account and log in again using your ET Prime credentials to enjoy all member benefits.

Unlock ETPrime's Exclusive Stories Today!

Subscribe to gain powerful insights on business, stock market and industry trends.

Big Price Drop! Flat 40% Off

Student Only Offer

Already a Member? Sign In now

Already a Member? Sign In now
Already a Member? Sign In now

Offer Exclusively For You

Save up to Rs. 700/-

ON ET PRIME MEMBERSHIP

Avail Offer

Offer Exclusively For You

Get 1 Year Free

With 1 and 2-Year ET prime membership

Avail Offer

Offer Exclusively For You

Get 1 Year Free

With 1 and 2-Year ET prime membership

Avail Offer

Offer Exclusively For You

Get Flat 40% Off

Then ₹ 1749 for 1 year

Avail Offer

Offer Exclusively For You

ET Prime at ₹ 49 for 1 month

Then ₹ 1749 for 1 year

Avail Offer

Special Offer

Get flat 40% off on ETPrime

Avail Offer
Avail Offer

Claim NowAlready a Member? Sign In now

Need Assistance?

Connect with an ETPrime expert for personalized support and guidance

+91 9484700004

' + h3 + '

' + h4 + '

' + listing + '

What’s Included with

ETPrime Membership

1Exclusive Insights That Matter

Uncover the truth with our investigative stories

Make strategic moves using the real-world case studies

Read industry-specific stories to identify emerging trends

Spot opportunities with in-depth insights that matter

Trump temper on H-1B visas is forcing Indians to do these things to stay put in US

What Adani’s US indictment means for India Inc’s overseas fundraising
Why veterans like Reliance, L&T are on acquisition spree? Aswath Damodaran has an answer.

Will China’s dollar bond sale in Saudi Arabia trump the US in financial world?
Huawei launches its own OS to compete with Google and Apple. But can it win beyond China?

The problem with lab grown diamonds
Why a falling rupee is a better option for the economy

A list of top 20 momentum stocks that have delivered massive returns in one year