Looking to take your investments international? Why Gift city should be your chosen gateway
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(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of www.economictimes.com .)
The International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT) is treated as an international jurisdiction, even though its central business district is located within India's borders.As an example, Indian banks that have branches at GIFT report the deposits there as global (non-domestic) deposits. This is a gateway for investments to and from abroad, which can be used as per one's requirements. While international investments can also be accessed outside of GIFT—through avenues like the $2,50,000 annual Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) or mutual funds—it's useful to be aware of all available options to make informed decisions.Global stocks are listed on the NSE IFSC at GIFT City, though currently this is limited to select US stocks. Indian exchanges like NSE and BSE operate at GIFT City, offering a curated list of leading global stocks. Due to currency conversion, stock prices in INR tend to be on the higher side. Investors cannot purchase these stocks directly; instead, they must invest through an IFSC receipt—an unsponsored depository receipt (UDR), which is a negotiable financial instrument. The UDR represents fractional ownership of the underlying US stock.Let us consider an example. Say you have a positive view on the Apple stock and want to take exposure. We'll assume the stock costs $199, the unit being US dollar (USD). At a conversion rate of about Rs.84.5 to a USD, the price per share of Apple would be approximately Rs.16,800. Let's say the price of one UDR, with Apple as the underlying asset, at NSE IFSC is $7.95. Using the same conversion, it is approximately Rs.672. Hence, you are buying nearly 4% of one stock of Apple, with commensurate benefits in price appreciation and dividends. This is known as fractional ownership—without owning one full stock, you hold a fraction of it, with proportionate benefits.Outbound investments through GIFT City are part of the LRS, which has a ceiling of $2,50,000 per financial year. You go to your bank, get your money converted from INR to USD, and remit USD to your broker. There are currently seven brokers, all Indian entities, set up at GIFT City for this purpose and their names are listed on the NSE IX website. There is no compulsion for investments abroad through GIFT City, but the finance hub enables you and guides you for the purpose.Over time, the volume of overseas investments has been steadily rising. According to the RBI, the top categories for remittances are travel, education, maintenance of relatives, and gifts—followed by investments. From a $0.75 billion investment in equity/debt via LRS in 2021-22, the number steadily rose to $1.25 billion in 2022-23, and $1.5 billion in 2023-24. If an Indian investor already has funds abroad and that is routed through GIFT City, it is not counted as part of the LRS limit. In simple words, your LRS limits get freed up every year; hence, your past LRS investments fall within the LRS limit of that year. Every year you start on a fresh plate; a limit of $2,50,000.Outbound investments carry the additional benefit of INR depreciation over the investment horizon. For example, you invest in stocks/bonds/mutual funds abroad when the USD-INR exchange rate was 83. After a few years, at the time of withdrawal, it reaches 86. As you are converting from USD to INR at 86, this depreciation adds to the returns you earned from your investments abroad.Investments flowing into India through GIFT City initially come in foreign currency, as the central business district is a foreign jurisdiction. For overseas investors, it is expected to be in USD (or other foreign currency), but it should be the same for Indian/NRI investors as well. Investments of funds into India is according to the financial product mandate as delineated by the product manufacturer. It could be investments into Indian equity or bonds or any asset class, as per the product specifications. The money is converted to INR and enters Indian jurisdiction. As long as funds remain invested in a bank at GIFT City in foreign currency, it is not a remittance to India, for that limited period.For investments in India, there is the risk of currency depreciation over the investment horizon. As stated in the earlier example, if a foreign or NRI investor put in money when the exchange rate was 83, they got commensurate INR for investments. On redemption, at conversion rate of 86, they would get relatively lower quantum of USD.A point to be noted is that India-focused investment avenues cannot be availed by resident Indian investors, since investments into the country from an offshore jurisdiction by resident Indians will tantamount to roundtripping, which is not permitted by the RBI.For investments abroad, if you have an appropriate wealth manager/investment adviser, you can take guidance on investment opportunities abroad. If your aim is to send money abroad for a goal that is a few years away, such as your child's education, the INR depreciation is an issue. You may send money earlier, in phases, to avoid the depreciation issue, to suitable investment products abroad.The Author IS A CORPORATE TRAINER AND AUTHOR.
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