Intuit Joins Commerce Secretary Gary Locke on High-Tech Trade Mission to India

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Intuit, represented by Alex Lintner, president of the Global Business Division of Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ:INTU), will join U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke on a business development trade mission to India from Feb. 6 - 11.

"U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke (left), Alex Lintner of Intuit (center) and Deepak Kumar Gupta, manager of Zeestar Bazaar in South Delhi, (right) discuss how Intuit GoConnect has helped the grocery store improve sales." (Photo: Business Wire)

As part of the invited delegation, Lintner will meet with public and private sector leaders to explore growth opportunities in India's expanding information and communication technologies sectors. The trade mission will visit New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.

On the first day of the trade mission, Secretary Locke joined Lintner on a customer visit in Delhi, where he met where he met Ajay Atal, chairman of Zeestar Group and Deepak Kumar Gupta, manager of Zeestar Bazaar, a supermarket in South Delhi. The face-to-face meeting, called a "Follow Me Home," is a core component of how Intuit understands the behaviors, wants and needs of all customers.

Intuit uses the knowledge gained from these meetings to create innovative solutions that help their customers grow and thrive. These sessions were instrumental in creating Intuit's newest offering for India, Intuit GoConnect, a product that has created jobs in both India and the United States.

"It is an honor to be a part of this trade mission to strengthen the relationship between our two countries as we explore ways to increase trade," said Lintner. "We're proud to provide Secretary Locke with a first-hand look at how Intuit works with small businesses as we create new products that help them grow. Small businesses are a catalyst for growth in both countries. And we're committed to developing innovative technology solutions that help them thrive."

Lintner and Intuit Chief Executive Officer Brad Smith took part in the U.S.-India Business Council Presidential Executive Mission to India in November. Smith participated in a panel discussion titled "Next Generation Leadership: The Future of Innovation and Entrepreneurship," which directly preceded an address by U.S. President Barack Obama.

At the time, Smith talked about Intuit's newest offering for India - GoConnect - a mobile marketing service that helps small businesses grow by allowing them to send targeted, personalized messages about products and services to their customers. The product debuted in India in November after Intuit conducted almost 3,000 visits with Indian consumers and small businesses in "Follow Me Home" meetings to understand the behaviors, wants and needs of the Indian marketplace.

Aimed at the millions of Indian micro and small businesses with less than 10 employees, Intuit GoConnect makes it easy for users to connect with their customers, from a special gift on their anniversary to an alert for a promotion or sale.

More effective, less costly and easier to use than alternative manual methods, GoConnect helps micro and small businesses differentiate themselves from the competition through relevant and timely communication. More information is available at www.intuit.in/goconnect.

Intuit in India

The company's first venture in Asia Pacific, Intuit has been in India since 2005, currently employing more than 400 employees across offices in Bangalore and Mumbai.

The company has been recognized as an employer of choice in India: as the 6th Best Employer in India, among the Top 25 Best Employers in Asia and Among the Top 50 Great Places to Work in India.

About Intuit Inc.

Intuit Inc. Is a leading provider of business and financial management solutions for small and mid-sized businesses; financial institutions, including banks and credit unions; consumers and accounting professionals. Its flagship products and services, including QuickBooks(R), Quicken(R) and TurboTax(R), simplify small business management and payroll processing, personal finance, and tax preparation and filing. ProSeries(R) and Lacerte(R) are Intuit's leading tax preparation offerings for professional accountants. Intuit Financial Services helps banks and credit unions grow by providing on-demand solutions and services that make it easier for consumers and businesses to manage their money.

Founded in 1983, Intuit had annual revenue of $3.5 billion in its fiscal year 2010. The company has approximately 7,700 employees with major offices in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, India and other locations. More information can be found at www.intuit.com.

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    Source: Intuit Inc.