For
a developing country like India, the total capital requirements cannot
be met with internal sources alone, so foreign investments become an
important part in supplying capital. The two most common foreign
investments are FDI and FPI.Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) as the name suggests is investing directly in another country. A foreign company which is based in some other country like France invests in India either by setting up a wholly owned subsidiary or getting into a joint venture with some company based in India and then conducts its business in India.
Examples: Various software companies like IBM India which is initially based in Unites States but has opened its subsidiaries in different part of India, Maruti Suzuki is yet another example in which Suzuki of Japan had joint ventured with Maruti Udyog Ltd. SBI life insurance is a joint venture life insurance company between State Bank of India (SBI) and BNP Paribas Assurance of France and there are many other examples.
Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) is similar to FDI in a way that this is also direct investment but investment in only financial assets such as stocks, bonds etc. of a company located in another country. In contrast to FDI, a portfolio investment is an investment made by an investor who is not involved in the management and day-to-day business of a company.
Example: Any foreign company invests in the shares of Infosys (based in India).
Foreign Institutional Investor (FII) is an investor of group of investors who bring FPIs. Institutional investors include hedge funds, insurance companies, pension funds and mutual funds. They participate in the secondary market of economy. To participate in the market of India, FIIs must register themselves with Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
FDI versus FPI
| FDI | FPI |
| Investment in productive assets (whose value increase over time) like plant and machinery for a business | Investment in financial assets like stocks, bonds, mutual funds, etc. |
| Investment gives investores ownership right as well as management right | Investment gives investors only ownership right and not management right |
| Engage in decision making of a firm | Not involved in decision making |
| Investors enter a country with long-term approach | Investors can plan for long but often have short-term plans |
| So investors cannot depart from the country easily | Investors can easily depart from the country |
| Investment is greater than 10% | Investment is less than 10% |