Harcourts looking at entering India

Harcourts looking at entering India
Sat, 16 May 2009

Harcourts International is exploring various international growth opportunities in India having received strong interest from there, according to Harcourts International Franchise Development Manager Aaron Hodson.

According to Mr Hodson, Harcourts International has been invited by one of India’s largest real estate groups to view their operations in Bangalore next month and meetings are also lined up with both franchise groups and independent real estate organisations that have shown interest in the Harcourts franchise model.

Next month’s visit to India by Mr Hodson and Harcourts International Executive Director Paul Wright follows “great interest” from Indian real estate organisations wanting to join the Harcourts group, as well as enquiries from several high-profile Indian universities and business schools keen to become affiliated with The Harcourts Academy, Harcourts’ real estate sales and management training division.

“We are currently reviewing several applications for various different types of master licences for the Harcourts brand in several states across India,” Mr Hodson says.

“We will spend our time in India next month conducting market research and investigating the best way to enter the Indian market, ensuring we have the right partner.”

Mr Hodson says entering the Indian market is a natural progression of growth for Harcourts, given India is one of the top three fastest growing economies in the world and has the second largest population.

“The opportunity to enter India is a truly exciting step for the Harcourts brand, continuing our strong international growth and goal of being one of the world’s leading real estate franchise groups.”

Mr Hodson says Harcourts International plans to have a suitable partner identified and a master licence agreement signed and completed in India by the end of the year.

Established in Wellington in 1888, Harcourts is the largest real estate group in New Zealand, the fastest growing in Australia and has offices in China, Fiji, Indonesia, South Africa, Botswana and Zambia too.

ENDS