Swiss Smile Dental Clinics - Europe's leading Dental Services Brand - enters India

This is Swiss Smile Dental Clinics' first foray outside Europe; Swiss Smile Dental Clinics India Pvt. Ltd. to have state-of-the-art facilities and foreign trained consultants; First clinic to open in January 2010 in Bangalore giving a boost to Dental tourism in India

Bengaluru, Karnataka, December 18, 2009 /India PRwire/ -- Swiss Smile Dental Clinics - Europe's leading dental service brand - today announced the launch of its India operations. Marking its first foray outside Europe, Swiss Smile is venturing into India to bring its world class services to one of the largest dentistry markets in the world. Swiss Smile Dental Clinics India will have state-of-the-art facilities and foreign trained consultants providing co-ordinated specialized next generation dental care to customers, all under one roof.

Swiss Smile is entering India through a Joint Venture (JV) between Global Tech Park - an investment firm with interests in real estate, design engineering and health care - and Swiss Smile Holdings. Global Tech Park would be holding 50% stake in the JV while Swiss Smile Holdings would hold the remaining 50%.

Speaking on Swiss Smile Dental Clinics' first foray outside Europe, Mr. Clifford Zur Nieden - Member of the Board, Swiss Smile Holdings said, "The dental segment is one of the most attractive segments of the health care industry with an estimated market size of about US$18.8 billion in 2008. Worldwide, this market is dominated by US, Europe and Japan. However, an increasingly aging population coupled with growing awareness of oral health and dental aesthetics and greater availability of improved dental treatment have boosted the growth of this segment in India. In addition, increasing disposable incomes and a large emerging middle class offer enormous potential for dentistry in India".

Elaborating on the significance of the launch of Swiss Smile Dental Clinics' operations in India, Mr. Zur Nieden said, "India needs to leapfrog to reach the level of technological development that Western countries have achieved in dentistry. India is in need of international expertise and this can only be achieved by setting up world class dental facilities like the Swiss Smile Dental Clinic. There is an enormous demand supply gap for world class organized facilities in the Indian dental market and we aim to bridge this gap".

Speaking on the plans of Swiss Smile Dental Clinics India, Dr. Sathya Kallur - CEO & Director of Clinical Operations- Swiss Smile Dental Clinics India said, "Although dental care remains a luxury for much of India's vast population, the market for dentistry is expanding as a result of the strengthening economy and an increase in the country's middle class across major cities such as Bangalore, New Delhi, Hyderabad etc. To respond to the growing consumer health care needs and expectations, we are setting up our first clinic in Bangalore followed by other markets like Hyderabad, Mumbai, Chandigarh, NCR, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Kolkata and Pune."

Articulating the vision of Swiss Smile Dental Clinic India, Dr. Sathya said, "We are planning to set up 10 state-of-the art dental care facilities in India within the next 3 years. Our vision is to provide multi-specialty dental care under one roof under the guidance of internationally acclaimed and trained dental specialists. The Indian dental market lacks an organized professional outfit and with the Swiss Smile technological expertise and state-of-the-art facilities, we are sure to bring in a positive change in the state of Indian dentistry."

Elaborating on the medical tourism potential and opportunity, Dr. Sathya said, "We also aim at contributing to the Indian medical tourism industry which is expected to experience an annual growth of 30% making it a Rs. 9,500 crore industry by 2015. The estimate of the value of medical tourism to India is to the tune of $2 billion a year by 2012. The dental tourism in India would account for 10% of the total medical tourism. In India, any dental service is 60% to 70% cheaper than Europe or the US. We therefore, aim to contribute to medical tourism in India by offering quality services at reasonable prices".

Speaking on the JV, Mr. Satish CMD - Swiss Smile Dental Clinics India & CMD - CEO - Global Tech Park - said, "The dental care segment offers a tremendous opportunity in India. We feel there is a need for a technologically advanced, world class facility providing international services to the Indian customer. Hence this JV with Swiss Smile Holding".

Notes to Editor

Swiss Smile Dental Clinics (www.swisssmile.com) - Swiss Smile Dental Clinics was started by Haleh and Golnar Abivardi and is successfully running clinics in Zurich, St. Moritz and London. The Swiss Smile Dental Clinics are dedicated to promoting healthy and beautiful teeth. Equipped with the latest technology, a team of highly qualified dental specialists take care of customers providing a truly world class experience. Swiss Smile Dental Clinics services encompass all areas of dental health including aesthetic dentistry, orthodontics, parodontology, oral surgery, emergency treatments and children's dentistry. Swiss Smile provides the security of in-house treatments at every stage, delivered by a highly competent and co-operative team which guarantees high levels of professionalism in all major areas of dental treatment.

Global Tech Park Pvt. Ltd. - is an investment company based in Bangalore with interests in the areas of real-estate, IT, design engineering and Healthcare. Global Tech Park has till date invested in companies like EDRC Technologies Pvt. Ltd.; Hands Free Networks, Global tech park - Tech Park Infrastructure Creation.

Source: http://www.indiaprwire.com/pressrelease/health-care/2009121839811.htm