Public procurement: Bidders from neighbours to require security clearance

Move will mostly affect Chinese companies who will have to register with the DPIIT

Companies bidding for public procurement from countries, which share a land border with India, will now need to separately register with the government and secure a security clearance before engaging in the bidding process.
 

On Tuesday, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) released a new format for the registration of entities based in neighboring countries. The move is set to affect mostly companies in China, which have hitherto had a major presence in both central and state level public procurement.
 

Now, bidders will have to submit an application for “Security Clearance” and “Registration” with the Office