Focus Worldwide – a US-based provider of global data and marketing solutions, with special emphasis on the emerging markets of India, China, and Latin America – has announced the India Bankcard Insert Program.

Designed as a turn-key solution for entering the India market, the insert program – which reaches 25 million card holders each month – allows marketers to enter the India market in an easy, cost-effective way. Marketers already with a presence in India have an opportunity to develop an additional marketing channel within the country.

Working with Regency Direct Marketing, its in-country alliance partner in India, Focus Worldwide is the exclusive manager of the program in the US. The aim is to relieve marketers of the logistical problems often associated with entering a foreign market. With the Bankcard Syndication Program, printing of the inserts, postage and inserting, as well as product fulfilment and currency transactions, are handled in-country by Focus Worldwide and Regency. This is all included in the comprehensive data card price of $155/M.

Douglas Sacks, partner in Focus Worldwide, said: “In general, multinational companies have a profit advantage over domestic companies since they can leverage foreign economies, some of which may be more recession-proof than others.

“India is one of the world’s most rapidly growing markets and indications are that it will be one of the first – if not the first – to emerge from the current global economic situation.

“The Bankcard Syndication Program allows US marketers a unique opportunity to begin building brand awareness in this burgeoning market.”

Chicca D’Agostino (pictured below), Focus Worldwide partner, describing her visit to Mumbai, India, in February 2008, said: "I expected to see American influences in the city, but I was not prepared for the extent of influence . . . everything from designer clothes, electronics and fast-food restaurants (even some rather obscure ones) to magazines, packaged goods and American-type malls.

“There appears to be a real thirst for American products and there is such a level of awareness of all things American – from social to economic and political – particularly among the middle class to upper class Indians.

“Despite the current economy and the tightening of purse strings, for around $20,000, a US company can test the waters and open up an exciting, growing, and profitable new market for its products or services.”

[Chicca D'Agostino]

http://www.focus-worldwide.com