Octic International, a Bahrain company that offers Indian passport and visa services, plans to open more branches soon, said its general manager.

The company, which has just celebrated its first anniversary, has issued around 29,000 passports and 10,000 tourist visas since its establishment.

Fazal Ul Haq said the firm now wanted to branch out from its centres in Gudaibiya and Riffa to help make its services more accessible.

'We are very proud that we have reached one year of uninterrupted service to the public, unlike some other places, and would like to thank those that made that possible,' he said.

'We have reduced the delivery time for passports from four days to two days and in emergency cases have helped people outside of normal operating hours. We have even opened on holidays with the help of the embassy consular section for those going to India for urgent medical treatment. We will soon open more branches to give a better service to people in Bahrain.'

Octic International set up the country's first passport home delivery service when the Indian Embassy outsourced passport and visa services to the firm last year.

Applicants are able to track their visa or passport application status online through octicinternational.com and receive an SMS alert.

For a nominal fee case officers also collect passports from private residences or labour camps and deliver them back to the doorsteps of customers.

Indian Ambassador Mohan Kumar said he was delighted with the success of the initiative.

'The company has been in existence for a year now and I must say we are very happy with the service they have provided,' he said.

Kumar and his wife Mala attended a celebration to mark the company's first anniversary at the Taka Tak Restaurant, Manama.

Senior embassy officials and Octic International management, directors and their families were also present.

Company and embassy staff were presented with certificates of appreciation and cash awards. – TradeArabia News Service