Aviva plans 9 more branches in north

Chandigarh, Feb (UNI) Aviva Life Insurance today announced its expansion plans in the northern region with Nine additional branches this year, taking the total number to 62 branches covering Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir and Delhi.

Regional Director - Sales, Aviva India, Rakesh Wadhwa, told media persons here that Aviva, also present in over 700 locations through its pioneering Bancassurance partnerships in Northern India, has plans to double its field force capacity from the current 10,000 Financial Planning Advisers in the northern region itself.

'Northern India is an important market for us and we will continue to expand our presence in this region in 2008. We are planning to double our sales force this year, '' he said.

New locations planned in Northern India include Delhi (seventh branch), Noida (second branch), Sri Ganganagar and Bikaner in Rajasthan, Rewari in Haryana, Haridwar in Uttarakhand, Ludhiana (second branch), and Moga in Punjab and Shimla in Himchal Pradesh.

Aviva Life Insurance, a joint venture between Dabur and Aviva, has current paid up capital amounting to Rs 1004.5 crore. Dabur has a stake of 74 per cent while Aviva is the 26 per cent shareholder, he said.

''We are hoping that the budget will allow 49 per cent FDI in this sector which will really provide it a much-needed boost,'' Mr Wadhwa said.

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