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Watch firm Omega to expand network to small cities

Swiss watch maker Omega today announced its second phase of expansion plans in India. The company will increase its distribution and service network in all the 23 cities with more than one million population by the middle of 2000.

Omega is part of the 3.3 billion Swiss francs Swatch group.

The expansion plan will substantially increase the company's reach in the Indian marketplace with the increase in sale points from 35 to 50 in the next 12 months.

Sunil Amarsuriya, CEO, Swatch (Singapore), said, ''In the first phase of expansion, Omega established its foothold in all leading metros. Omega is now planning to expand its network to smaller towns and cities throughout the country.''

Ravi Thakran, general manager, Swatch (South Asia), said, ''With the recent liberalisation of import policy, we are now able to offer the complete Omega international collection, thereby making the watches available to a much wider market segment.''

Thakran said that the Swatch group has got a nod from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board for setting up a 100 per cent subsidiary in India.

''Joint ventures for a manufacturing base, and assembling, distribution and service networks in India are possible. The Swatch group may use India as an exporting base for the neighbouring countries,'' Thakran said.

Earlier this year, Omega announced Shah Rukh Khan as the international brand ambassador for the brand. 'James Bond' Pierce Brosnan and supermodel Cindy Crawford are signed for promotion of Omega watches in the international markets, he added.

The other brands of Swatch group include Blancpain, Longines, Rado, Tissot, Calvin Klein, Breguet and Swatch. Each brand is targeted to tap different segments of the watch market.

UNI

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