Govt yet to decide on Air India: Goyal

Dubai, October 2

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday said the government had not taken any decision on Air India so far and the final winner would be selected through a well-defined process.

He was replying to a question about media reports stating Tatas have emerged as the top bidder for the takeover of debt-laden Air India.

Tuhin Kanta Pandey, Secretary to Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM), the government department responsible for privatisation, had said in a tweet on Friday that the Centre had so far not approved any financial bid for Air India.

“Media reports indicating approval of financial bids by the Government of India in the AI disinvestment case are incorrect. Media will be informed of government’s decision as and when it is taken,” he tweeted.

When asked about the proposed free trade agreement with the UAE, the minister said there were a lot of opportunities for Indian businesses in sectors such as textiles, gems and jewellery, pharma and healthcare. “There is tremendous potential in both goods and services. We have to encourage Indian businesses to engage with the UAE,” he said.

The minister said businesses in the UAE had shown keen interest in India. PTI