 "RBI eases overseas loan rules for low-cost housing")
Mumbai: The Reserve Bank of India has made it easier for property developers to access foreign money in an effort to spur low-cost housing projects, such as slum rehabilitation.
The RBI has extended the limit of $1 billion that can be borrowed through the external commercial borrowing (ECB) scheme to the 2014-2015 financial year from this year.
It will also allow companies to hedge the entire borrowing, protect them from any sharp depreciation of the rupee against the dollar.
“The ECB availed of by developers and builders shall be swapped into rupees for the entire maturity on a fully hedged basis,” the RBI said in a notification on Monday.
The central bank also reduced the minimum experience companies have to have to undertake these projects to 3 years from 5 years.
The Reserve Bank also scrapped the minimum paid-up capital of Rs 50 crore for property developers.
The Indian rupee slumped to an all-time low of 59.9850 to the dollar last week and foreign investors have been selling Indian debt, with many of them incurring losses due to their unhedged currency exposure.
Reuters
 "Israel targets top Hamas leaders in Doha; Qatar, Iran condemn strike as violation of sovereignty")
 "Nepal: Oli to continue until new PM is sworn in, nation on edge as all branches of govt torched")
 "Who is CP Radhakrishnan, India's next vice-president?")
 "Israel informed US ahead of strikes on Hamas leaders in Doha, says White House")
 "Israel targets top Hamas leaders in Doha; Qatar, Iran condemn strike as violation of sovereignty")
 "Nepal: Oli to continue until new PM is sworn in, nation on edge as all branches of govt torched")
 "Who is CP Radhakrishnan, India's next vice-president?")
 "Israel informed US ahead of strikes on Hamas leaders in Doha, says White House")
