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Overseas investments by Indian firms increased by about 59 per cent in May to $3.7 billion, with Gammon, Tata Steel and Religare among the top investors abroad.
Outward flows in May 2010 stood at about $1.39 billion.
However, the total outward FDI by Indian firms during April-May 2010-11 — at $5.09 billion — was lower than the $5.98 billion achieved in the corresponding period last year, the Reserve Bank said.
Indian overseas investment policies have been progressively liberalised and simplified to meet the changing needs of a growing economy in a globalised environment.
“In the post-2003 period, the policy has enabled corporate entities and registered partnerships to invest in bonafide businesses abroad, currently to the extent of 400 per cent of their net worth, under the automatic route,” the central bank said.
Even as Indian firms were bullish on overseas investment, inbound foreign direct investment stood at $3.12 billion during April 2011, as per the latest data from the Industry Ministry, up by about 43 per cent from $2.17 billion in the same month last year.
The RBI data further revealed that outward FDI in 2010-11 stood at $43.92 billion, a huge jump from $17.98 billion in the previous fiscal.
Outward FDI comprises investments in equity, loans and guarantees issued by Indian firms to their joint ventures or wholly owned subsidiaries.
The biggest outward investment from India during May was by Gammon India Ltd, which pumped over $1.83 billion into its Panama-based joint venture, Campo Puma Orient SA.
The Panamanian joint venture is engaged in the field of agriculture, forestry, hunting and fishing. The investment was in lieu of both equity, as well as a loan to the subsidiary.
In May, Tata Steel invested $514.57 million in its Singapore-based WoS Tata Steel Asia Holdings PTE, which is engaged in the financial, insurance, real estate and business services segments.
Another Tata Group company, Tata Motors, also invested in its joint venture company in Thailand and a wholly owned subsidiary in the United Kingdom.
In addition, Religare Enterprises Ltd made an investment of $166 million in its US-based WoS, Religare Global Asset Management Inc, which is engaged in the field of finance, insurance, real estate and business services.
Altogether, 418 outward investments were made from the country by various firms during May.
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