A different kind of parade

Foreign trade missions that introduce companies to invest in India have two clear tasks: How to help such companies navigate India's bureaucracy, and what to look for in an ideal partner. Despite the homework and the effort they put into a project, the final decision regarding the choice of a local partner rests with the international firm scouting for opportunities. So they ask local firms to present their credentials. "These interactions seem like beauty parades," rued a law firm executive, who presented his company's credentials at one such mission in Bengaluru.