Competitive Advantages Offered by India

	Stable democratic governance throughout 55 years of independence.
	Large market of a middle class of 300-350 million people with increasing purchasing power as reflected by a sustained growth in sales of consumer durables in recent years.
	Access to regional international markets through membership of regional cooperation frameworks such as SAARC, Indian Ocean Rim countries (IOC-ARC), and dialogue partnerships with EU and ASEAN. India also have Memoranda of Understanding/Cooperation partnerships with most African and Latin American regional groupings.
	Foreign investment is welcome in almost all sectors barring those of strategic concern like atomic energy, railways and sensitive defense production.
	Thrust on technology, innovation and knowledge based industries and services.
	Well developed R&D infrastructure and technical and marketing services.
	Large resources of untapped natural wealth.
	Promising future in the burgeoning information technology and biotechnology industries.
	Developed banking system, commercial banking network of over 63,000 branches, supported by a number of international banks, insurance and financial institutions.
	Vibrant capital market comprising 23 stock exchanges with over 9,000 listed companies.
	Developing as one of the largest cost-competitive technical workforce nation.
	Conducive foreign investment environment that provides freedom of entry and exit, investment, location, choice of technology, import and export.
	Acceleration of the privatization process and restructuring of public enterprises.
	Current account convertibility, capital account convertibility for foreign investors and progressive implementation for Indian residents.
	Established, independent judiciary with a hierarchy of courts and the existence of several arbitration mechanisms outside the courts.
	Special investment and tax incentives given for exports and certain sectors such as power, electronics, telecom, software, oil & gas and research and development activities.
	Legal protection for Intellectual Property Rights.
	Import regime in conformity with WTO commitments – removal of remaining quantitative restrictions on imports of goods into India barring certain items on grounds of national security, defense and health.