Before you open an office, hire a country manager or bid, you need three honest answers: is there funded demand for what you sell, who actually buys it, and what is the fastest legal route to being allowed to sell it. We give you those answers in about six weeks, built on India’s live tender pipeline rather than headline numbers.
Book an India-entry callRead the market-entry guide
Why foreign firms get stuck here
India’s infrastructure story is real, but most of the money moves through thousands of separate buyers: central ministries, 28 states, municipal corporations, public sector companies and the private contractors who sub-let to them. A market report shows the size of the cake; it does not tell you which slice is open to a foreign firm, on what terms, and in what year.
The usual result is an expensive first year: a liaison office that cannot earn revenue, a distributor who never gets you specified, or a bid you were never eligible to win. The firms that do well in India spend their first months on a narrow, evidence-based entry plan, then commit.
What you get
A funded-demand map
Live and upcoming tenders, budgets and funded programmes in your segment, by state and by buyer, with values and timelines. You see real projects, not compound annual growth rates.
A buyer and influencer map
Who writes the specifications (consultants, utilities, design firms), who approves vendors, who pays, and how long payment really takes.
An eligibility check against your credentials
We read the pre-qualification rules of typical tenders in your segment and show, line by line, what your firm meets on its own and where it needs an Indian partner’s track record.
Entry-vehicle comparison
Wholly owned subsidiary, project office, branch, liaison office or joint venture, compared on cost, time to set up, tax exposure and what each lets you bid for. Prepared with your legal and tax advisers.
Local-content position
How your product scores under India’s public procurement local-content rules, and what local assembly, sourcing or licensing would change.
A 12-month entry plan
Partners to approach, tenders to target, budget, hiring and decision points, so your board can approve a plan rather than an idea.
A recent mandate
Italian stone-industry manufacturer: a credible Indian partner in under 90 days
Client: Italian manufacturer of products for the natural-stone industry (name withheld at the client’s request)
What they wanted: Enter India’s stone market and find a suitable Indian partner to sell and support its products.
What we did: Mapped the market and the likely partners, drew up a shortlist, ran due diligence on the candidates, set up and joined the meetings, and stayed involved through to a distribution arrangement.
- Under 90 daysto a credible Indian partner, Zyax Chemicals
- Under 180 daysto a distributor arrangement in place
How it runs, and how long it takes
- Week 1: kick-off
We agree the segment, the questions your board needs answered and the documents we need from you.
- Weeks 2–4: evidence
Tender and budget analysis plus 15–25 conversations with buyers, consultants, contractors and potential partners in India.
- Week 5: findings workshop
A working session with your leadership, in person in Mumbai or by video, with a clear go, wait or no-go view.
- Week 6: entry plan
The written 12-month plan and an introduction list for the next step.
Who this is for
International EPC contractors, makers of equipment and technology for water, energy and transport, and investors who are considering India but have not yet committed an office, a partner or a bid. It also suits firms that tried India once, stalled, and want an honest second look.
Why UBR Infra
- Our founders come from an Indian industrial engineering group that supplied valves to oil and gas, power and water projects for decades, so we know how Indian projects specify, approve and pay for equipment.
- A partner leads the study personally and presents it to your board.
- We will tell you if the answer is no. If demand is not funded, or the eligibility gap is too wide, it is cheaper to know now.
Questions foreign firms ask us
How long does an India market entry study take?
About six weeks for one segment. Adding a second segment usually adds two to three weeks.
What does it cost?
A fixed fee agreed after the kick-off call, based on the number of segments and states. There are no success fees on the study itself.
Do you replace our lawyers and tax advisers?
No. We frame the commercial decision and work alongside your advisers, and can introduce reputable Indian law and tax firms if you need them.
Can a foreign company own 100% of an Indian business in infrastructure?
In most infrastructure sectors, including roads, ports, power and water, foreign direct investment of up to 100% is allowed under the automatic route, subject to sector conditions. We confirm the position for your exact activity with your legal advisers.
Should we start with a liaison office?
Only if you want to research and represent. A liaison office cannot earn revenue in India. Most infrastructure firms are better served by a subsidiary, a project office for a specific contract, or a joint venture.
Can you tell us not to enter?
Yes, and sometimes we do. It is the most valuable answer we can give a firm that would otherwise lose a year.
Where to go next
- Partner search and joint venturesThe usual next step once the market case is clear
- Foreign EPC contractorsHow contractors qualify for Indian tenders
- Guide: how foreign EPC contractors win work in IndiaEntry vehicles, eligibility and procurement rules
Book a 30-minute India-entry call
Tell us what you make or build, and where you want to be in India. A partner reads every enquiry and replies within one working day with times for a call.
Prefer email? info@ubrinfra.com · +91 22 2492 7671 · Mumbai, India (UTC+5:30)
