Strategic Investor Outreach in France
Author: Roshni Sagar
India and France have solidified a fruitful relationship over a significant period. Our shared heritage has led to a strong Strategic Partnership with an impetus to strong economic ties between the two countries. The two countries are successfully cooperating in the areas of smart cities, railways, tourism, food processing and renewable energy.
The team carried out extensive research basis the outbound FDI activity and potential for collaboration to shortlist the following focus sectors for the roadshow: Food Processing, Renewable Energy, Automobile and Chemicals. Companies from these focus sectors were analysed basis their FDI activity, India presence and financial stability to shortlist and reach out.
Invest India organised a Strategic Investor Outreach to France from 17 July to 21 July 2019. The main objectives of the visit were as below:
- Interact with companies that have expressed interest in investing in India; provide information on sectoral opportunities, and EODB support/ incentives offered by Government of India
- Interact with companies already operational in India and discuss facilitation for future business plans or any Issue resolution required
- Hold discussions with players across the supply chains of manufacturing companies already operational in India
The outreach was conducted in close cooperation with the Embassy of India, Paris, MEDEF, line ministries and key banking and consulting partners. The delegation led by Mr. Deepak Bagla, Managing Director and CEO, gave the French investor community a unique opportunity to meet with sectoral experts from the Invest India team and central ministries.
A total of 30 one-on-one investor meetings were carried out during the outreach with focused discussions on the company’s priorities in India and plans for future expansion. This included a targeted set of meetings with the French automobile and renewable energy supply chain. The meetings also included some of the French companies part of CAC40 which are present in India and are our ambassadors for other French businesses. Additionally, the team travelled to the cosmetic valley cluster in Chartres to meet with specialty chemicals companies. Nineteen potential targets have been identified from this roadshow with whom we are actively engaging on existing investments, issue resolution and future plans. The engagement with the companies reinforced investor confidence for existing French investors and reiterated the Government’s commitment to ease of doing business and driving FDI.