Every country requires capital for its economic growth, and the funds cannot be raised from its domestic sources alone.
Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) are the two essential and well-sought type of foreign capital by the countries, especially by the developing world. Post Union Budget FY 2019-20, most of you surely would have heard the words “FPIs” being used, in the context of the stock markets crash through financial news channels or social media platforms.
While most people know that FPI and FDI pertain to foreign investment, but fewer know that they are not interchangeable.
This blog is to look at the two terms individually to understand them better and then go on to understanding the differences which make them unique and distinctive.
FDI pertains to foreign investment in which the investor obtains a lasting interest in an enterprise in another country.
It involves establishing a direct business interest in a foreign country, such as buying or establishing a manufacturing business, building warehouses, or buying buildings. Also, it tends to involve creating more of a substantial, long-term interest in the economy of a foreign country.
Due to the significantly higher level of investment required, FDIs are usually undertaken by MNCs, large institutions, or venture capital firms. FDI tends to be viewed more favorably since they are considered long-term investments, as well as investments in the well-being of the foreign country itself.
This kind of investment may result in the transfers of funds, resources, technical know-how, strategies, etc.
There are several ways of making FDI like:
Some of the recent significant FDI announcements in India are as follows:
The Modi Government’s favorable investment policy regime and robust business environment have ensured that foreign capital keeps flowing into the country.
The Government of India (GOI) has taken many initiatives in recent years such as relaxing FDI norms across sectors such as defense sector, PSU especially in the oil refineries sector, telecom sector, power exchanges, and stock exchanges, among others.
According to Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), India received the highest-ever FDI inflow of USD 64.37 billion during the FY 2018-19, indicating that government’s effort to improve ease of doing business and relaxation in FDI norms is yielding results.
During FY 2018-19, India received the maximum FDI equity inflows from Singapore (USD 16.23 billion), followed by Mauritius (USD 8.08 billion), Netherlands (USD 3.87 billion), USA (USD 3.14 billion), and Japan (USD 2.97 billion).
As of February 2019, the GOI is working on a road map to achieve its goal of USD 100 billion worth of FDI inflows.
FPI, on the other hand, refers to investing in the financial assets of a foreign country, such as stocks or bonds available on an exchange.
In simple words, FPI involves the purchase of securities that can be easily bought or sold.
The intent with FPI is generally to invest money into the foreign country’s stock market with the hope of generating a quick return.
Hence, this type of investment is at times viewed less favorably than direct investment because portfolio investments can be sold off quickly and are at times seen as short-term attempts to make money, rather than a long-term investment in the economy.
In India, FPIs includes investment groups of Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs), Qualified Foreign Investors (QFIs) and subaccounts, etc. NRIs doesn’t come under FPI.
As per data from National Securities Depository Ltd (NSDL), FPI turned net sellers in July, withdrawing around Rs. 12,400 crores from the Indian stock market.
This is the highest outflow since October 2018, when foreign investors pulled out Rs. 27,622 crore from the Indian stock market.
Also, July’s FPI outflow from India is the highest among emerging markets, which indicates that investors have started shifting to other developing economies in their hunt for higher returns.
While both FDI and FPI involve putting money into a foreign country, the two investment options differ considerably. Following are some of the key differences between these two:
| Parameters | FDI | FPI |
| Definition | FDI refers to the investment made by foreign investors to obtain a substantial interest in the enterprise located in a different country. | FPI refers to investing in the financial assets of a foreign country, such as stocks or bonds available on an exchange. |
| Role of investors | Active Investor | Passive Investor |
| Type | Direct Investment | Indirect Investment |
| Degree of control | High Control | Very low control |
| Term | Long term investment | Short term investment |
| Management of Projects | Efficient | Comparatively less efficient |
| Investment has done on | Physical assets of the foreign country | Financial assets of the foreign country |
| Entry and exit | Difficult | Relatively easy |
| Leads to | Transfer of funds, technology, and other resources to the foreign country | Capital inflows to the foreign country |
| Risks Involved | Stable | Volatile |
An investor from a foreign country can easily make a foreign portfolio investment.
FDI and FPI are simply two methods through which foreign capital can be brought into the domestic economy.
Such an investment has both positive and negative aspects, as the inflow of funds improves the position of balance of payment while the outflow of funds in the form of dividends, royalty, import, etc. will result in the reduction of the balance of payment.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this post are that of the author and not those of Groww