India's DIPAM seeing 'sufficient interest' from foreign bidders for Air India stake

India's Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) Secretary Shri Tuhin Kanta Pandey said "potential foreign buyers" have expressed "sufficient interest" in acquiring Air India (New Indian Express, 05-Feb-2020). He explained that foreign carriers will need to join a consortium in order to bid for Air India, as foreign carriers are restricted to a 49% stake in the national carrier "under existing norms". "High debt and continued government shareholding" were apparently the causes for why the bidders "did not bid the last time", Mr Pandey noted.