Most Indian infrastructure tenders reward completed work in India. The right Indian partner lets you qualify for projects you could not bid alone and gives you people on the ground. The wrong one can cost you the contract, your money and your name. We find the partner, check them properly, and structure a partnership that still works when things go wrong.
Book an India-entry callRead the market-entry guide
Why foreign firms get stuck here
Foreign firms usually meet Indian partners the same way: at a trade fair, through a distributor or through someone who knows someone. The introduction is easy; knowing whether that partner has the credentials, balance sheet and reputation you need is not.
The cost of a poor choice shows up later: a joint venture that cannot pre-qualify, disputes over who controls the bank account, a partner whose litigation history surfaces during a bid, or a deadlock with no exit.
What you get
A long-list of 15–25 candidates
Indian contractors, manufacturers and developers active in your segment, filtered by tenders won, completed projects, financial strength and fit with your technology.
A short-list of three to five, with reasons
Each scored against your criteria: credentials they bring, capacity, finances, culture and conflicts.
Background and integrity checks
Company filings, financial statements, litigation and regulatory history, promoter background, credit ratings and references from past clients and partners.
Warm introductions and meetings
We make the introductions, brief both sides and attend first meetings with you in India.
A recommended structure
Bid-specific consortium, project joint venture or joint venture company, with shareholding, control, profit and risk split.
Term sheet and negotiation support
Scope split, decision rights, exclusivity, deadlock, exit and dispute terms, negotiated alongside your lawyers through to signing.
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
- Weeks 1–2: brief and criteria
What you bring, what you need, the tenders you are targeting and your deal-breakers.
- Weeks 3–5: search and screening
Long-list built and cut to a short-list, with a written reason for every name.
- Weeks 6–8: introductions
Meetings in India, partner questionnaires and site visits.
- Weeks 9–12: diligence and terms
Deeper checks on the preferred partner and a negotiated term sheet.
Who this is for
Foreign contractors and technology providers who need Indian credentials, presence or execution capacity, and investors looking for an Indian operating or co-investment partner. Also firms with an existing partner that is not working.
Why UBR Infra
- Our partners have negotiated cross-border industrial partnerships across Asia, the Middle East and Africa, and have sat on both sides of the table.
- We are paid as your adviser. If we ever have an interest in a partner we introduce, we tell you in writing before you meet them.
- We check partners the way a lender would, not the way a salesman would.
Questions foreign firms ask us
How long does it take to find an Indian JV partner?
A short-list usually takes four to six weeks. Signing a joint venture typically takes three to six months, depending on the partners and the tender timetable.
Consortium or joint venture company: which is better?
A consortium is simplest for a single bid. A joint venture company suits a long-term pipeline but needs stronger governance terms. We recommend one based on your pipeline and risk appetite.
Can a foreign company lead an Indian bid consortium?
Often yes, if the tender allows it and the consortium meets the eligibility criteria together. Many tenders set minimum shares for the lead member; we check each one.
What checks do you run on a potential partner?
Company and director filings, audited financials, credit ratings, litigation and regulatory records, media and reputation checks, and references from clients and past partners.
Do you take a stake in the joint venture?
Not by default. We are paid as advisers. Any other arrangement would be disclosed and agreed in writing at the start.
Can you help fix or exit an existing partnership?
Yes. We start with a review of the agreement and the relationship, then renegotiate, restructure or help you find a replacement.
Where to go next
- Approvals and liaisonRegistrations the partnership will need
- PPP and project developmentTurning the partnership into a winning bid
- Equipment and technology makersLicensing, assembly and distribution partners
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)
