India most-preferred retail destination

According to a recent study by property agents CB Richard

Ellis, India ranks first among the most preferred retail destinations in the world. India topped the list in a survey of 323 international retailers about the markets they entered for the first time last year. Though the bill on FDI in retail is yet to be finalized, Neville Moss, Director, Head of EMEA Retail Research at CB Richard Ellis says that since many retailers are already entering the Indian market, there is not much of an entry barrier. With a FDI policy in place, global retailers will just be more confident on the sense of ownership given in a foreign country.

Global retailers have taken a wait and watch policy over investing in India, while their first preference is China. According to the study, which covered 75 countries, eight retailers entered India last year while seven entered Turkey which is in the second-place in the list. In terms of international retailers present in a country, India ranks 35 with just about one-fourth retailers present in the country. China ranked seventh, with 46 per cent retailers’ present there. UK topped the list with 57.6 per cent retailers present there in 2011. New Delhi ranked as the fourth most popular city for new retail entrants at the city level.

Global retailers are increasingly looking at economies such as India and China, which have the best growth prospects and are least likely to be affected by adverse global economic conditions.