Switzerland-based Hinduja Bank, part of the Hinduja Group, is witnessing a resurgence of investor interest in India and plans to launch new funds soon, a top official of the merchant bank said.

“We may be sounding against established thinking, but we see a lot of opportunities in wealth management where investors are looking for secure, non-government owned financial institutions, quality financial advice and long-term commitment. Our natural position as a bridge between growth economies and mature markets offers significant development prospects,” Ivan Schouker, chief executive of Hinduja Bank told Financial Chronicle.

He also noted that clients are now focusing more on the long-term returns and lower risk asset classes. The bank is advising on combining highly secure portfolios with select emerging markets investments.

“Investors have become increasingly weary and sophisticated, and rightly so. They are looking for niche private banks that focus on client needs and are not seen as product pushers. The focus is more on return of capital than return on capital,” Schouker added.

He said 2008 was a profitable year for the bank, thanks to its diversified business model, He, however, refused to disclose the figures.

Hinduja Bank has also made investments in strengthening its delivery capabilities and network in core markets and is taking advantage of the depressed environment. It is continuously looking at raising efficiency in high-cost locations while identifying opportunities to grow across three core activities – wealth management, trade finance services, and corporate advisory & structured solutions, Schouker pointed out.

“We would also be looking at both organic and inorganic opportunities in our core markets of India, the West Asia, as well as countries where strong NRI communities show outstanding business leadership such as in southern and eastern Africa,” he added.

On the global economic recovery, Schouker expects a recovery by mid-2010, followed by a sluggish global growth with wide disparities in performance.