{
  "id": 15941184,
  "title": "'India a rising star in Swiss watch exports mkt'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/india-a-rising-star-in-swiss-watch-exports-mkt",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-21T19:15:56.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Economic Times",
    "slug": "the-economic-times",
    "url": "https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/cons-products/fashion-/-cosmetics-/-jewellery/india-a-rising-star-in-swiss-watch-exports-market-franck-mullers-erol-baliyan/articleshow/135099917.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "India is poised to become one of the top eight global markets for Swiss watch exports by next year, according to Franck Muller executives. Currently ranked 14th, the country's sales have surged ahead of China and the US, where demand has waned. Franck Muller's Erol Baliyan, the chief executive for the Middle East, Africa, and India, revealed that exports to India grew by 28.5% from January to September, totaling 265 million Swiss francs (over ₹3,000 crore). The company attributes its success in India to a three-pronged strategy: cultural relevance, historical ties, and religious significance. Recent launches such as the Men in Blue collection for sports fans and a commemorative timepiece for India's 75th Independence Day have contributed to the growth. Franck Muller is also in the process of announcing its first real estate project in India, aiming to develop luxury homes. Surging sales in India have prompted the Swiss watch brand to shift focus away from the Middle East, where tourist arrivals have declined. They acknowledge that the watch industry remains resilient compared to sectors like automobiles, which have suffered in China due to political conflicts. Despite these challenges, Franck Muller remains committed to expanding its presence in the Middle East while capitalizing on opportunities in India and other Asian markets like Singapore and Japan.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}