MUMBAI: Compact Disc India (CDI) has forayed into the licensing and merchandising business and has set up a wholly-owned subsidiary called Premier Brands.

CDI owns the worldwide licensing & merchandising rights to Italian soccer legend Pele. The company is also in the process of making an animation movie around him.

CDI has been allotted industrial land by the Government of Himachal Pradesh at Baddi, near Chandigarh for its licensing and merchandising business.

Speaking to Businessofcinema.com, Compact Disc India managing director Suresh Kumar says, "The brand licensing market worldwide is estimated at $187 billion. The products that we will be rolling out have a huge potential as Pele is a legendary icon. We are still in the process of chalking out our other plans."

Merchandising around Pele will include the famous No 10 jersey, footballs signed by Pele, caps etc. "In Brazil there are Pele branded cafe chains, which can be even brought to India. So there is a huge potential," Kumar informs.