ABSTRACT
Mutual engagement between India and the EU was primarily based on trade cooperation which was converted into a strategic partnership in 2014. The major share of Indian companies located in Europe is held by private entities; only a tiny amount, around 3 percent, are of public origin. Evidence of motives behind investments made by Indian firms in Europe is drawn from the proprietary dataset and the reading of corporate websites. The access to new markets is associated with the access to strategic assets when Indian companies acquire local companies in Europe. Greenfield investment and extensions were the preferred modes of entry of Indian investors for the years 2010-12. Services before manufacturing are the main function operated by Indian companies when they invest in Europe. Indian banks are not targeting domestic banking markets in Europe but rather Indian communities. To get a broader view of the behavior of Indian companies in Europe, one can switch and see a 'representative' actor.
