Mumbai, Sept. 29 -- The Securities and Exchange Board of India's (Sebi's) decision to allow portfolio management services (PMS) companies to invest in foreign securities could unlock a new growth lever for the industry, provided they can find professionals with expertise in managing global portfolios.

Demand for diversification beyond Indian markets is rising, but building teams with the expertise to invest across geographies, currencies and regulatory regimes will take time, as few Indian funds currently invest overseas.

"The talent exists, but experienced professionals who combine global market knowledge with the needs of Indian PMS clients are a relatively small pool," said Anshul Sharan, co-founder and chief executive at quantitativ...