Foreign investors can enter the Indian market through various entry strategies including setting up a liaison office, branch office, project office, or incorporating a wholly-owned subsidiary or joint venture. A foreign company can choose to operate as an Indian company by forming a joint venture with an Indian partner or setting up a wholly-owned subsidiary. They can also operate as a foreign company by opening a liaison office, branch office, or project office, subject to RBI approval. Liaison offices are limited to representative functions while branch and project offices allow for additional commercial activities related to the foreign company's core business.

1. Entry Strategies for Foreign Investors
With the liberalization of FDI policy 2013, most restrictions on foreign investment have
been removed and procedures have been simplified. Today, there are very few
industries where foreign investment is prohibited. Moreover, investment ceilings, which
are applicable in certain cases, are gradually being removed or phased out. Government
of India on a yearly basis formulates a consolidated FDI Policy, with the intent and
objective to promote FDI through a policy framework, which is transparent, predictable,
simple and reduces regulatory burden.
A non-resident entity can invest in India, subject to the FDI Policy, except in those
sectors/activities, which are prohibited. However, a citizen of Bangladesh or an entity
incorporated in Bangladesh can invest only under the Government route. An entity
incorporated in Pakistan can invest, only under the Government route, in
sectors/activities other then defence, space and atomic energy and sector prohibited for
foreign investment.
FDI is allowed either under the automatic route without prior approval of the Government
or the RBI in all the sectors as specified in the FDI Policy. FDI in sectors not covered
under the automatic route requires prior approval of the Government, which is
considered by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB).
Depending upon its business needs, a foreign company can choose between setting up
a liaison office, a branch office or a project office or incorporating an Indian company,
either its wholly owned subsidiary or joint venture with an Indian/overseas partner.
A. AS AN INDIAN COMPANY
A foreign company can start its business operations in India by incorporating a
company under the Companies Act, 1956 through either a Joint Venture (JV) or
forming a Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS). Foreign equity in such Indian
companies can be up to 100%, subject to sectoral equity caps under the FDI
policy.
1. Joint Venture with an Indian partner
Foreign companies can set up their operations in India by entering into strategic
partnership with Indian entities and forming a Joint Venture (JV). JV can provide
many advantages to the foreign investor, like access to established
distribution/marketing set up of the Indian partner and established contacts of
Indian partners to smoothly run the operations in India.
2. Wholly Owned Subsidiaries
Foreign companies can also set up their operations in India by forming a Wholly
Owned Subsidiary in sectors, where 100% foreign direct investment is permitted
under the FDI policy. An application has to be filed with the registrar of
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2. Companies (ROC) for registration and incorporation of the Company in India.
Once a company has been duly registered and incorporated as an Indian
company, it is subject to Indian laws and regulations, as applicable to other
domestic Indian companies. Such a subsidiary is treated as an Indian resident
and an Indian company for all Indian regulations (including Income Tax, Foreign
Exchange Management Act, 1999 and the Companies Act), despite being 100%
foreign owned. For detailed procedure and guidelines for incorporation of
company in India, read here.
B. AS A FOREIGN COMPANY
Foreign companies can set up their operations in India through Liaison Office,
Project Office or a Branch Office.
1. LIAISON OFFICE
Foreign companies are allowed to open liaison offices in India, subject to
obtaining specific approval from the RBI, to undertake liaison activities on their
behalf. Liaison office acts as a channel of communication between the principal
places of business and entities in India.
Scope of Activities
Under the current exchange control regulations, a liaison office is permitted to:
• Represent the parent/group companies in India;
• Promote exports and imports from/to India;
• Promote technical /financial collaborations between parent/group
companies and companies in India;
• Act as a communication channel between parent/group companies and
companies in India.
Typically, a liaison office is not permitted to:
• Earn any income;
• Undertake any industrial, trading or commercial activity;
• Enter into any agreement on behalf of the head office;
• Borrow or lend money for any commercial activity;
• Charge any fee or commission or otherwise earn any income, in respect
of liaison activities carried on in India.
For detailed procedure and guidelines for opening the liaison office in India, read
here.
2. BRANCH OFFICE
Foreign companies engaged in manufacturing and trading activities abroad
are allowed to set up Branch Office in India for the following purposes:
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3. • Undertake the export and import of goods;
• Render professional or consultancy services;
• Carry out research work in which the parent company is engaged;
• Promote technical and financial collaborations between Indian companies
and parent/overseas group companies;
• Represent the parent company in India and act as buying and selling
agents;
• Render services in information technology and development of software
in India;
• Render technical support to the products supplied by the parent/group
companies;
• Operate as a foreign airline/shipping company.
Apart from obtaining RBI approval for establishing a liaison office, project
office/branch office, the foreign company is also required to register with the
Registrar of Companies ("ROC"). An application has to be filed in the prescribed
form within 30 days of the establishment of the office in India with ROC, pursuant
to which ROC would issue a certificate of establishment of place of business in
India to the foreign company.
3. PROJECT OFFICE
Foreign companies planning to execute specific projects in India can set up
temporary project/site offices in India. RBI has now granted general permission
to foreign entities to establish project offices, subject to specified conditions.
Such offices cannot undertake or carry on any activity other than the activity
relating and incidental to execution of the project. Project offices may remit
outside India the surplus of the project on its completion, general permission for
which has been granted by the RBI.
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