India Entry Strategy

Under this domain, we provide the following services:

Devising strategies for foreign investors in India by suggesting the following options for entering into the Indian market space:

Branch Office
Liaison Office/ Representative Office
Project Office,
Joint Ventures in India
Wholly owned Subsidiaries in India
Limited Liability Partnership

Assistance in setting up of liaison office, branch office, project office etc. of corporates in India and assisting in obtaining the requisite approval from the Reserve Bank of India

Assistance in setting up of liaison office, branch office, multinational banks and assisting in obtaining the requisite approval from the Reserve Bank of India

Assistance in obtaining other necessary registrations and adherence other procedural compliance requirements which are required for the purpose of functioning/ establishment of an arm in India

Valuation of shares of the investee company and assist the investee / investor companies in complying with the corporate law/ regulatory requirements

Due Diligence

Regulatory Approvals

Representative office facility during the in-transit period including provision of office infrastructure and manpower

The establishments, which may be set-up by a foreign company are explained as under:

Branch Office

Foreign companies engaged in manufacturing and trading activities abroad are allowed to set up Branch Offices in India for the following purposes:

To represent the parent company/ other foreign companies in various matters in India e.g. acting as buying/selling agents in India

To conduct research work in the area in which the parent company is engaged

To undertake export and import trading activities

To promote possible technical and financial collaborations between the Indian companies and overseas companies

Rendering professional or consultancy services

Rendering services in information technology and development of software in India

Rendering technical support to the products supplied by the parent/ Group companies.

Foreign airline/ shipping company

Liaison office/ Representative office

Liaison office is not allowed to undertake any business activity in India and cannot earn any income in India. The role of such offices is, therefore, limited to undertaking activities which are preparatory and auxiliary in nature such as collecting information about possible market opportunities and providing information about the company and its products to the prospective Indian Customers. Generally, liaison office are set up for the following purposes:

Representing in India the parent company/ group companies

To conduct research work in the area in which the parent company is engaged

Promoting export import from/ to India

Promoting technical/ financial collaborations between parent/group companies and companies in India

Acting as a communication channel between the parent company and Indian companies

A person resident outside India permitted by the Reserve Bank to establish a Liaison office in India may carry out the following permitted activities

Permission to set up such offices is initially granted for a period of 3 years and this may be extended from time to time.

Project Office

Foreign Companies planning to execute specific projects in India can set up temporary project offices in India. For this a general approval has been given by RBI subject to fulfillment of certain conditions.

Incorporation of Indian company

A foreign company can either incorporate a new company or enter into a joint venture with a partner. Foreign equity in such companies are subject to sectoral caps under the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy.