S.S. Rana & Co.

1. In today’s evolving global landscape, what does being a 'future-ready organisation' mean to you, beyond technology and digital transformation?

Honestly, when I think about future-readiness, technology is not the first thing that comes to mind - people are. Tools will keep changing regardless of what we do. What matters is whether our people can keep learning and adapting as things shift. 

For a law firm especially, clients do not come to us just for answers, they come for discernment. The ability to evaluate a complex situation and provide a clear, reasoned recommendation.

Culture matters too. Anyone can buy software. What you cannot buy is a workplace where people trust each other and genuinely want to keep learning. That's what helps an organisation absorb change without losing itself.

2. At a time when geopolitical alliances are being reshaped, what, in your view, makes the India-France partnership particularly resilient and future-oriented?

I think what makes this relationship work is that it was never built on convenience- it was built on trust, and that takes decades to establish. India and France have consistently chosen long-term cooperation over quick wins, whether in defence, energy, space, or now, technology and innovation. 

What's particularly interesting is that both countries value strategic autonomy. Neither is looking to be dependent on the other but they're choosing to work together because it genuinely makes sense for both sides. 

I have also noticed growing interest from French businesses in India's innovation and IP landscape, and equally, Indian companies looking at France and the broader EU as a real growth market.

3. The India-France Year of Innovation 2026 presents a significant opportunity to deepen technological and entrepreneurial collaboration. How do you see your organisation contributing to this shared innovation agenda?

Given our background in IP, technology, and innovation law, we have a fairly practical role to play. Innovation is exciting, but it only becomes valuable once it's protected and can move across borders safely- that's where we come in. 

We want to help French companies coming into India, and Indian companies heading into France, navigate the practical side of things- IP protection, licensing, technology transfer, regulatory compliance. These aren't the most glamorous parts of innovation, but they're often what determines whether a good idea actually succeeds commercially in a new market.

4. How important you think are institutions like IFCCI in strengthening trust, dialogue and long-term economic partnerships?

Government-level ties set the tone, but it's organisations like IFCCI that do the actual day-to-day work of connecting businesses and keeping the relationship alive. Trust does not come from occasional high-profile visits- it comes from consistent engagement over years, and that is exactly what IFCCI has been doing. By regularly bringing together companies and professionals from both countries, it creates continuity, so relationships keep deepening instead of resetting every time the geopolitical mood shifts. 

So for me, IFCCI is not just a networking platform- it is one of the reasons this economic relationship keeps building steadily.