Walmart spent $25 mn in last 4 yrs to lobby for India entry, other cases

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Agencies: Washington, Dec 10 2012, 02:15 IST

Global retail giant Walmart — waiting for years to open its supermarkets in India — has been lobbying with the US lawmakers since 2008 to facilitate its entry into the highly lucrative Indian market.

As per the lobbying disclosure reports filed by Walmart with the US Senate, the company has spent close to $25 million (about Rs 125 crore) since 2008 on its various lobbying activities, including on the issues related to “enhanced market access for investment in India”.

In the last quarter ended September 30 itself, the company spent $1.65 million on various lobbying issues, which included “discussions related to FDI in India”.

During the quarter, Walmart lobbied for its case with the US Senate, the US House of Representatives, the US Trade Representative and the US Department of State, as per its latest quarterly disclosure report.

The companies are allowed to lobby for their cases in various departments and agencies in the US, but they are required to file their lobbying disclosure reports every quarter with the US Senate.

So far in 2012, Walmart has spent more than $3 million on its various lobbying activities, including those related to India. As per its disclosure reports, the company has continuously lobbied for its India entry since 2008, except for a few quarters in 2009.

The Indian retail market is estimated to be worth about $500 billion currently and is pegged to cross $1 trillion mark by 2020, given the rising personal income.

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Reader's Comments (2)| Post a Comment

Here it has no importance how much spent but what given to Indian counterparts.

Yogi M. P. Singh | 10-Dec-2012Reply | Forward

How much surprising that each parties were opposing F.D.I. but finally passed. It seems that something takes place behind the screen otherwise how it became possible ? Why women's reservation bill was put on hold by the parliament which was the need of hour? Why the paper concerned with the Janlokpal bill was torn in the parliament and proceedings of both upper and lower house was installed by its members. Here it is obvious that most of parliamentarians come from criminal back ground who have no regard for rule of law of land, they always have selfish motives. If we want to correct the system ,then there is need of update to this rotten system which has been handed over by British Monarch in the name of providing independence.

Wall Mart spent 35 million

Shadi Katyal | 10-Dec-2012Reply | Forward

It is pity that such media display shows that Walmart is not only involved in India but they have a lobby for its own business.The company is alos being invegtigated for bribes for Mexico,India and other countires,Wallmart has not been a sucess story around the world and has withdrawn from many nations as could not make headway. The prices in USA are not commutative with many stores overfill and time may come like many other big stores it may go the same way. It is a kind of bulk seller and one doubts if it will succeed in India due to climate etc. Beside it has to invest 50% for infrastructure etc.