Tue May 20 07:12:40 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, speaking at the Competition Commission of India’s annual day, warned that regulatory delays and lack of transparency in India can negatively impact investment and the timely completion of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). She highlighted the importance of a free and fair market for the benefit of all, particularly in sectors becoming increasingly dominated by a few players (duopolies or near-duopolies) like aviation, telecom, and food delivery. She emphasized the need for regulators to be nimble and transparent to attract investors and ensure swift approvals for non-harmful combinations.

**News Article:**

**Sitharaman Warns of Regulatory Delays Impacting Trade Deals, Market Competition**

**New Delhi, May 20, 2025** – Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman cautioned today that slow regulatory clearance and opaque processes in India risk undermining trade negotiations and market competition. Speaking at the 16th annual day of the Competition Commission of India (CCI), Sitharaman emphasized the importance of efficient and transparent regulation to attract investors and facilitate the timely completion of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).

Her remarks coincide with ongoing FTA negotiations between India and several countries, including the U.S., the EU, and New Zealand. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is currently in the United States for trade talks.

“Delays in regulatory clearance can lead to uncertainty, disrupt commercial timelines and potentially erode the intended value of transactions,” Sitharaman stated, adding that the “ability, nimbleness, and readiness of the regulators is very keenly watched by investors.”

The Finance Minister also highlighted the increasingly concentrated nature of several key sectors in the Indian economy. She pointed to aviation, where Indigo and the Air India Group control the vast majority of the market, as well as telecom, dominated by Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, and food delivery, largely controlled by Zomato and Swiggy.

Sitharaman stressed that a free and fair market, where no single player can corner resources or distort price discovery, is crucial. She urged regulators to facilitate swift approvals for mergers and acquisitions that do not harm competition, ensuring the voice of consumers is heard. She underscored the need for the Indian government to prevent the development of monopolies and near-monopolies in Indian economy.

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