The Hindu Business Line : `India could become outsourcing hub for quality production work'

INDIA is well-known for delivering high quality IT and IT-related services. And, now Sir Martin Sorrell, Chief Executive of the WPP Group believes that this country can become a hot destination for outsourcing of production work in the creative sphere.

Speaking to Business Line, Mr Sorrell said, "So far market research-related outsourcing work has moved to this country. But now, India has the opportunity for doing quality production work." The Chief Executive said the whole idea is to improve cost efficiency. "We are always looking at what we can do to reduce costs for our clients. But at the same time, we try and make sure that we deliver better products to them," he added.

He also cited the example of Unilever setting up its own studio to do production work and maintained that agencies too would have to understand the implications of such a move. He was, however, not willing to give any numbers on the size of the production outsourcing business India can expect.

Expressing satisfaction on the quality of talent in India, Sir Martin said that several top executives from various WPP outfits here have been placed at senior positions in the international branches. "People from India have been exported to other countries," he said. Also, he said that he is happy about the growth shown by the WPP entities in India and said that his appetite for more acquisitions has not diminished.

He also stressed that the WPP Group agencies would continue to aggressively pitch for various accounts, irrespective of the size of the account. "All businesses are important and we do not distinguish between big and small. Some of the small businesses are iconic. But the key issue is to remain competitive and give a good fight," the advertising honcho said.

So will Sir Martin Sorrell ever come to India to pitch for an account? "I do (pitch) occasionally, only when I am asked to," he said.

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