The economic and trade cooperation between India and China has witnessed unprecedented progress in recent years. Even the mutual investment is in the ascendant which would bring rich benefits to both sides. With this background, Consulate General of India, Shanghai jointly with Confederation of Indian Industry organized ‘India Investor Forum’ on January 12, 2011 at Shanghai. The primary objective of the Forum was to address the Chinese companies interested in investing in India, to give an overview on the FDI Policy, Basic Tax and Business Laws, Financing Options etc. More than 100 representatives from leading Chinese companies based in East China attended the Forum.

Speaking at the event, Consul General said that with an economy that has recorded impressive economic growth in recent years, despite major turbulence in world economy, to become the fourth largest in purchasing power parity terms, India now represents a great investment opportunity for foreign investors. With a combination of factors such as macro-economic stability, consistent growth, abundant skilled manpower, well-developed banking and judicial system, a vibrant capital market and its large scale investment absorption capacity, India offers attractive returns to prospective investors.

With about a trillion dollars of investments expected in the Indian infrastructure sector in the next five–six years, there are a plethora of business opportunities for Chinese companies to invest in India, in infrastructure projects, dedicated freight corridors, subway lines and SEZs which are being created through Public Private Partnerships, said Mrs Das.

Mr Zhao Kangmei, Vice Chairman, Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce and Vice President, Shanghai Foreign (Overseas) Investment Board addressing the forum

Mr Zhao Kangmei, Vice Chairman, Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce and Vice President, Shanghai Foreign (Overseas) Investment Board in his address gave an overview of the Overseas Investment Policy of China. He said the policy encourages suitable Chinese companies in “Going Global” by way of favourable policy, speedy approval and financial assistance. “Going Global” will remain a core policy not only for China but also for Shanghai in the 12th Five-Year Plan, said Mr. Zhao. The World Expo 2010 provided an excellent opportunity to closely understand the investment opportunities in different countries. He hopes that Shanghai enterprises will further explore these opportunities in order to take the foreign investments to higher level.

Earlier, Mr J J Shrikhande, Chairman, CII India Business Forum China, in his welcome address said that during Premier Wen Jiabao’s recent visit to India the two countries have decided to expand cooperation in infrastructure, environmental protection, information technology, telecommunications, investment and finance on a priority basis to draw on each other's strengths for mutual benefit. He added that the leaders from both the countries have set the ambitious goal of bilateral trade reaching $100 billion by 2015. This, he felt, would encourage mutual investment to bring rich benefits to both sides. Mr Shrikhande opined that it was time for Sino-India bilateral economic relations to graduate from pure trade to investment-led-trade in order to make this growing partnership more sustainable. 
‘India Investor Forum’ in progress

In the following session, senior representatives from EJ Mckay, Deloitte and State Bank of India made presentations on FDI policy of India and other related business laws and financial opportunities for investing in India. Senior leaders from YAPP Automotive Parts Co.  Ltd.  and Zhejiang Yankon Group Co. Ltd. based in East China, which have invested in India, shared their success stories.