Scottish oil service company Reel Group is expanding into India to take advantage of opportunities offered by its growing offshore-drilling market.
The Aberdeen-based inspection and maintenance specialist is carrying out final preparations to open an office in Mumbai next year.
The launch of the Indian operation will mark the culmination of more than a year of preparation and research led by Simon Wickes, who is to be Reel’s manager for the country.
He said: “From discussions with contacts in India in 2009, we became aware that there was a place for the range of high-quality specialist services we provide in the expanding offshore market.
“Since then, both with visits to the country and with the assistance of our excellent network of contacts there, we have put a great deal of hard work into defining exactly how best we can serve existing and new clients operating in that market.
“As a result we have decided to launch a wholly owned Indian company, Reel Inspection and Industrial Services Private Limited, offering our full range of services.
“This is a very exciting development for us in terms of entering a new and very promising marketplace and bringing jobs and specialist skills to India. There is a very well educated and highly motivated workforce in India and we look forward to utilising those qualities as we develop our business there.”
First Minister Alex Salmond said: “Scotland has a long established, strong reputation as a global hub for oil and gas and I am delighted that Reel is taking its skills and expertise to the emerging Indian energy market by establishing operations in Mumbai.”
The chief executive of Scottish Enterprise, Lena Wilson, said: “This is a fantastic step forward for Reel Group and it’s very encouraging to see the company proactively capitalising on the huge opportunities that exist in India’s growing markets.
“As opportunities for trade and investment partnerships with India continue to grow, our challenge is to support more Scottish companies to explore the business opportunities that exist in India and the rest of the world.”
Reel is part of Aberdeen and Inverness-based Global Energy Group.
Recommended for you
