Why is it difficult to negotiate business with Indian clients? Perhaps cultural differences?

I work in Ad sales company and I am targetting the Indian market. However, whenever I send a proposal, they inform me that they'll look into it in a few days and come back to me. But they never keep their promises and they miss the deadline. It's difficult to get an answer from them so I keep chasing these proposals but they started to hang up on me!

I've heard from a colleage that Indians like discounts or the ability to get one, the problem is that we have not reached a point where I can negotiate a price. If anyone out there who deal with Indian businesses or from an Indian background. Could you please tell me if there is anything I can do? Would a face-to-face meeting be better than telephone conversation? If so, would it be appropriate to bring a gift?
Thank you

India is a huge country with innumerous companies in all fields. If you are a potential customer, then no company would keep you in dark and try to approach you themselves.
If you are a vendor, then it is possible that the companies already have hundreds of such proposals in their database and that too from local vendors who are so easy to contact, meet and negotiate.

Your proposal should be for something new in the market and should go to the right person (the decision maker, owner or marketing head etc.). You have to also see whether the company is interested in international tie-ups or not.

As regards the discounts, yes, you will have to bring down the prices lower than what other vendors are offering for the same product/service.

my father in law does business alot with India people...he says they are the toughess to deal with...they are also the cheapest...they say to him....people pay there people dirt cheap for labor...so why would they buy something for more than they could get ...if they had their own people doing it....and why would they spend more...when we spend less for goods...they are very hard to contact...they are in face hands on people..who don;t like the mess paper work brings...they would rather sat at a table and talk it over...so in plain words my friend..."you have your work cut out..."