India Luxury Retail: Entry Strategy for Global Brands | Doing Business in India | Episode 23

India's luxury market is one of the fastest-growing in the world; valued at approximately USD 8 billion in 2023 and projected to reach 85 billion by 2030. Over 85,000 millionaires, growing at 6% annually, and a younger, globally-travelled consumer base that is discerning, aspirational and increasingly brand-aware. For international luxury labels, the question is no longer whether India is a serious market. It is how to establish a direct presence and how to do it correctly.

In this episode of the Veyrah Law series, Ajay Joseph (Partner at Veyrah Law) examines the FDI framework for single brand retail, the 30% sourcing condition that every brand must understand and plan for, and why multi-brand retail remains restricted for foreign investors. The episode then sets out a practical execution framework: entering without a JV partner, choosing tier 1 city locations and premium mall environments, keeping the team lean but senior at the top, cultural awareness in advertising, conservative tax structuring on import valuations and transfer pricing, and planning the sourcing requirement well before incorporation. Luxury retail in India is one of the more manageable sectors for foreign investors: the corruption interface is low, the regulatory complexity is contained and the consumer demand is genuine. But execution still matters enormously.