Thaindian News

Chennai, Aug 4 (IANS) Non-life insurer Cholamandalam MS General Insurance (Chola MS), a joint venture between city-based Murugappa Group and Japan’s Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group, Tuesday said it will continue targeting Korean and Japanese firms operating in India for selling its products.
“Our strategy in India will be to expand the retail business, bring the technical knowhow in risk management from Japan to the country and train Chola MS employees in Japan and Singapore,” Toshiaki Egashira, president and chief executive of Mistsui Sumitomo Insurance, told reporters here.

He added that the Japanese firm which currently has 26 percent stake in the joint venture, plans to increase its stake.

Chola MS has a separate strategic business unit (SBU) to market its products among the Japanese and Korean companies operating in India.

“We have a major share of the insurance business of Hyundai Motors, Toyota, Honda Motors, Yamaha Motors, Sony, Panasonic, Samsung India and 100 percent share in LG Electronics,” said S.S. Gopalarathnam, managing director of Chola MS.

He said 7 percent of the company’s premium comes from Japanese and Korean firms in India.

Chola MS earns nearly 72 percent of its Rs.685 crore premium from the retail segment comprising of motor, house, health and other insurance policies.

“Health insurance gives us 23 percent of our premium and we have filed three new health insurance policies for the insurance regulator’s approval,” added Gopalarathnam.