HDFC Standard Life plans to triple its sales force in the country in the next one year in anticipation of continued growth in sale of its insurance policies. UK-based Standard Life, the joint venture partner of domestic financial services major HDFC in the Indian insurance business, today said its life insurance business in India continues to develop rapidly and recorded sales growth of 58% to 140 million pounds (about Rs 1,200 crore) on constant currency basis in 2006. "In Asia we expect sales to continue to grow strongly as we capitalise on market growth and triple our sales network in India by March 2008 and double our sales force in China by the end of 2007," Standard Life said while announcing its new business results for 12-month period ended December 31, 2006. HDFC Standard Life is estimated to have a network of 35,000 sales executive, which could rise above 1,00,000 by March next year if the company achieves its target for expanding the sales force. It's rival and the country's biggest private sector life insurance firm ICICI Prudential Life Insurance is estimated to have a total sales force of about 1,80,000 people. |