In 2007 an official report on making Mumbai a global financial centre a work of great imagination identified nit-picking and suspicion of foreign financiers (who are welcometobuy shares in India but not to play in debt markets) as a big problem.
You need to engage as a company if you want the politicians to open up markets for you, the local communities towelcome you, and future consumers tobuy your products.
While I still doubt that any of this was intentional, the very best possible thing for EA to do under the circumstances was turn on the Welcome sign and buy a round on the house.