Percept Profile Gulf in joint venture with Dadabhai Group; to open regional office in Kingdom of Bahrain

Percept Profile Gulf is a joint venture of Percept IMC, a US$ 350 million Asian media & marketing communications group head-quartered in India, and the well-diversified Dubai-based Lal's Group, recognized as a prominent enterprise in the retail, shopping mall and wholesale industries in the Middle East.

Addressing a press conference, senior representatives of Percept IMC, Dadabhai Group and PPG, said that the commencement of full-fledged operations in the Kingdom would enhance the firm's core value proposition of providing full-service Public Relations services to its increasing client base in Bahrain, and the region in general.

Introducing the joint venture communication company, Mr. Harindra Singh, Vice Chairman, Percept IMC, said: "The significance of opening the new official base in Bahrain will have to be qualified by the immense growth opportunities the Kingdom presents to integrated communication companies. Thanks to the visionary leadership of the Rulers and the Government, the Kingdom of Bahrain has kept up its pace of dynamic growth on the economic and social fronts, with increasing sophistication and openness."

"We have chosen Bahrain to be our springboard of regional expansion because of its economic dynamism and investor-friendly policies. We are also proud to join hands with the reputed business conglomerate, Dadabhai Group, and take this opportunity to welcome our new partners to the Percept family."

Introducing Percept IMC, Mr. Singh said Percept is a media and marketing communication group offering solutions across main stream advertising, through the line & below the line (sports & event marketing, celebrity management, entertainment marketing, sponsorship marketing and promotions), media, content and public relations.

With a capitalized billing of over US$ 350 million, the Percept group today has over 860 professionals across 61 offices in 22 cities across India, Middle East, United Kingdom and the Asia Pacific Region.

Percept Profile Gulf has been active in the Bahrain market for the last 16 months and key clients of the Agency in the Kingdom include Gulf Finance House B.S.C., one of the leading Islamic investment banks in the region, and the US$1.3 billion Bahrain Financial Harbour project.

Explaining the rationale for opening a joint venture communication company, Mr. Aziz Giltwala, Director, Dadabhai Group said: "We consider our association with Percept Profile Gulf a valued and timely diversification. Increasing pressure for corporate transparency and public accountability, which are salient indicators of a mature market, are now the key drivers for both the corporate and government sector in Bahrain.

"From a closeted mentality, businesses in Bahrain are gradually realizing the advantages that professional strategic communication brings in to business growth."

"The region is slowly realising that information is money, ensuring the success of the business of communication. With Percept already a well-entrenched name within the Gulf and Indian market, we believe that its integrated communications offering will tremendously benefit the private and public sectors in the country."

Extending his best wishes to the new joint venture, Mr. Jayant Ganwani, Chairman of the Dubai-headquartered Lal's Group, joint venture partners of the Percept Group in the region, said: "Since its inception two years ago, PPG has created a reputation for itself as a specialist communications company specializing in providing innovative and value-added solutions that are aimed at have a positive impact on business results.

"During this relatively short period the Agency has succeeded in developing an impressive portfolio of Clients across the Consumer, Hospitality Finance, Information Technology and Realty practice areas. The commencement of its operations in Bahrain is reflective of the growth ambition of the agency and Percept's commitment to become a leading provider of Integrated Marketing Communication services in the region."

The other constituents of the Percept portfolio in the Gulf, include Percept Gulf Advertising, a leading full-services advertising agency based in Dubai, and PDM Gulf, an agency focusing on providing event, sports and celebrity management services, both of which have been successful in creating a niche for themselves in the regional market.

"In the coming months, we hope to introduce other communication practices that fall within the Percept Group to the region," concluded Mr. Ganwani.

Expressing his delight at the new office opening, Mr. Arun Rangachari, Chief Executive Officer, Percept Profile Gulf, said: "This opening of our new office crowns our presence in the Kingdom for the last nearly two years. Bahrain is a key market for us and we are committed to cater to it with sophistication and verve."

He said Percept Profile Gulf was equipped to meet the challenges of modern communication needs and will strive to create distinct benchmark in every aspect of its professional operation in Bahrain. "Marketing and media communication is no more a matter of blind speaking. Ideas and information will have to be matched against corporate ambitions and this is where Percept Profile Gulf would like to bring in its differentiation and expertise."

"We believe that the need to communicate effectively is being felt now more than anytime before. Percept Profile Gulf will support this new found openness through precise and speedy communication solutions that track the trends of the time," Mr. Rangachari said. He said Percept Profile is passing through an exciting growth phase now and it has aggressive plans to reinforce its presence in the regional market.

"Bahrain is the beginning of our regional thrust - we will soon have similar partnerships in key regional and GCC markets since we believe that the region offers high potential for growth, and we are very well equipped to tap this potential," Mr. Rangachari added.