Qi Group to expand its Middle East network

DUBAI - QI Group, the $280 million Hong Kong based multinational company with diversified business interests in numismatics; travel & leisure; interactive marketing; finance & corporate investments; training & education; on-line retailing and holiday business has opened its UAE office in Al Ain last week.

By Babu Das Augustine

Published: Sun 8 Feb 2004, 12:15 PM

Last updated: Wed 26 Apr 2023, 9:34 AM

The Group has plans to open offices offices in Riyadh, Muscat, Bahrain and Kish Island and introduce its diversified portfolio of businesses in the UAE and the entire Middle East region. GoldQuest's UAE subsidiary incorporated in the UAE as GoldQuest Al Emarat will spearhead operations and the expansion programme throughout the Gulf and Middle East.

Vijay Eswaran, Group managing director and CEO of Qi said: "We have diversified business interests across the world. We see big potential for all our lines of businesses in the UAE and the Middle East."

GoldQuest International, a QIGroup company specialises in numismatics. It deals in commemorative coins, watches and jewellery. Its coins and jewellery are marketed in more than 120 countries worldwide. In its five years of existence, GoldQuest is now considered one of the most successful Asian start-up businesses, and is Asia's largest e-business portal. GoldQuest was responsible for the successful marketing of Sydney Olympics coins in some of the South East Asian markets. "We have our own mint in Germany. In addition, working with reputed government and private mints we offer highest quality numismatic items with embedded value that could be transferred from one generation to another," Eswaran said.

In the numismatic and exclusive jewellery line of business, he sees huge demand from the Gulf markets. "Our products have proved to be hugely popular in the Arab markets. The issues such as the watches were snapped by the Arab customers. We have several innovative ideas for coins and jewellery in the near future. To support its numismatic business GoldQuest is planning to set up a mint at Al Ain.

In the travel and leisure business, the Group's Quest Vacation International (QVI) will introduce a membership based programme in the region in the near future. The company currently owns its own resorts in Thailand, Indonesia and Sri Lanka and plans to expand its network of wellness health resorts to India, Middle East and Europe. QVI currently operates in more than 100 countries worldwide, offering its members an affiliate network of more than 3,700 resorts to choose from. "QVI network offers its members the opportunity to own holidays across its network and trade on-line to help them expand their travel horizon," he said.

The group claims that its interactive direct marketing company QuestNet has more than 500,000 customers in 120 countries. QuestNet works with its members without the burden of distribution and delivery on them, while sales commission is distributed to the members based on the genealogy reports of referrals. The interactive marketing service is currently focused on the offerings of its subsidiaries including GoldQuest and Quest Vacation International. "QuestNet is limited to our own lines products to ensure highest quality in products and services we offer while ensuring customer satisfaction," Eswaran said.