Crest co-owner Grant McLauchlan said the owners of a South Auckland Crest Commercial Cleaning franchise had returned to India and taken with them a licence agreement for that country, Crest Commercial Cleaning (India) Pvt.
It was perfect timing, he said, coinciding with economic growth in India of 6% to 9%, a move towards more westernised infrastructure such as plazas, malls and office blocks, and people demanding cleaner and more hygienic facilities.
In two visits to the subcontinent in 24 months, Mr McLauchlan said he noticed a significant shift towards a westernised lifestyle.
"As the Indian economy becomes more sophisticated, customers - particularly international corporates - are demanding better hygiene standards," he said.
New shopping malls were opening and used cleanliness to attract customers.
India's cleaning industry was estimated to be worth about $150 billion a year, but Mr McLauchlan said it had been serviced by untrained and poorly resourced companies who employed cleaners, known as housekeepers.
Crest cleaners were required to undertake New Zealand Qualifications Authority training which led to a national certificate in cleaning and caretaking, and Crest staff in India would be trained to a similar standard, overseen by Crest's New Zealand staff.
Mr McLauchlan said further business opportunities existed for Crest to export its house-branded, environmentally friendly cleaning products to India.
The experience from doing business in India could see further international exposure, to the Middle East and parts of Asia such as Malaysia and Singapore, but such a move would be a couple of years away.
Crest was established in New Zealand in 1996 and has 235 franchises.
