Canara Bank is planning to open six new branches abroad soon. “We have got approval from the Reserve Bank of India to open branches in New York, Tokyo, Nigeria, Tanzania, Brazil and Jeddah and are working on modalities to open them soon,’’ R.K. Dubey, Chairman and Managing Director, told newspersons here. In addition, it also got a licence to open a branch in Johannesburg in South Africa and expecting to get licences in Qatar and Frankfurt shortly. As of now, it has branches in London, Leicester, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Bahrain and a representative office in Sharjah.
“Our target is to obtain 10-15 per cent our total business from branches abroad,’’ Dubey said. At present, foreign business accounts for 5 per cent of the Bangalore-based bank’s total business which had crossed Rs 6 lakh crore as on March 31, 2013. On the hiring plans, Dubey said about 7,000 probationary officers, specialist officers and clerks would be recruited next year. “We have just completed selection process of 7,000 employees and requirement would be similar next year due to many retirements,’’ he added.