Lloyd's of London officially started operations in India on April 5, with MS Amlin Plc as the first syndicate to join the branch and begin underwriting, effective April 1.

The reinsurance branch, which operates under the name Lloyd's India, will focus on infrastructure, agriculture and disaster management, according to an April 5 release. Shankar Garigiparthy was named country manager and CEO of Lloyd's India.

MS Amlin is the first Lloyd's insurer to join the branch, with its specialist underwriting team providing a range of reinsurance products to Indian cedents. Lloyd's insurers are set to join in time.

In January, the U.K.-based insurance and reinsurance marketplace received final approval from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India to set up its branch.

MS Amlin is a unit of MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings Inc. through Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co. Ltd.