New Delhi, April 08: Taking its anti-smoking drive forward, the government today banned foreign direct investment (FDI) in cigarette manufacturing in the country.
Home Minister P Chidambaram said that FDI will be prohibited in cigarette manufacturing, whether it is for domestic consumption or for exports.
“The approval is expected to enhance public accountability by way of the government’s commitment towards proliferation of anti-smoking regime in the country,” he told reporters after the CCEA meeting.
The decision to ban FDI is the latest in the government’s long-standing drive against smoking.
In 2008, the government had banned smoking at public places and put a curb on tobacco advertisements.
The proposal for banning FDI in cigarette manufacturing was mooted by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion and approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in its meeting.
—Agencies