Rabo India, which has a capital base of Rs 106 crore, received a licence to carry on the business of non-banking finance company last month. "We are currently talking to a few financial institutions and other nationalised banks for providing us with a similar line of credit," Rabobank International's MD Ashok Kapur said.

According to Kapur, the company is currently working on a food and agri-business project for a multinational firm.

The company has been selected to provide global banking support to the Maharashtra Agro Advantage by the government of Maharashtra to disseminate the potential of food and agri-business opportunities in the state. The company is currently working on 10 small-scale agricultural projects having an estimated sizeof Rs 21 crore.

According to Kapur, India is the future food factory of the world and there is a huge growth potential for food, agro-business and interlinked activity. "We have decided to enter the Indian market through our own subsidiary instead of an alliance with a foreign bank as a tie up will not meet our needs as we are not just interested to do banking but provide financial services for this sector," he said.

According to him, in the food and agro-business sector, the company will provide credit at a cheaper rate, distribution and transport facilities and other inter-related services to the food processing industry. The company will also provide services in the healthcare and insurance sector.

According to Rebo India Finance MD Anton ML Nillesen the company has medium-sized international clients who are planning to make an entry into the Indian market agro-business sector. "We have a comprehensive mix of products which will help us providing agro-product finance," he said.

Kapur'slong-term plans include a foray into venture capital funds, merchant banking services, corporate finance, advisory services and infrastructure sector, project and structured finance, finance mergers and acquisitions, joint venture advisory services and syndication of debt and equity.