The Hindu Business Line : Australia's Croker mulls joint venture in India

AUSTRALIAN rowing equipment maker Croker Oars is exploring the option of a joint venture in India to outsource components in addition to tapping the potential market.

Though the $3.1-million specialist sports goods firm has a modest market of selling 100 pairs of oars to rowing clubs in India, it sees a growing opportunity, according to Mr Howard Croker, Director.

Croker Oars, with 11,000 pairs a year is the second largest manufacturer-supplier of rowing oars globally (the biggest, a US company is four times the size). It started supplying oars to India three years ago. "We prefer direct marketing to the rowing clubs", Mr Howard told Business Line, here.

Mr Howard was here recently to attend the 11th Asian Rowing Championships, where the company's oars and sculls were in action.

Currently, the company outsources various components and assembles them at the plant in Tarre, North of Sydney in New South Wales.

It is also discussing with Indian Services, which is a major player in the national rowing field. Similarly, it wants to reach the 35 odd private clubs in the country that are involved in the water sport, he said.

Col. C.P. Singh Deo, Secretary General of the Rowing Federation of India, said the sport is slowly gaining in popularity. With imported equipment easily available, efforts are on through its 20 State units to spread the sport. Rowing boats are currently procured from Wuudi of China and Empacher of Germany, he said.

Down Under, Croker Oars, started in 1962 is on a major expansion. It is building a new facility in Tarre and wants to grow to $6 million in two years. The money for the expansion would be from internal resources.

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