Samsung global sales hit $ 135.8 b

by Ranil Wijayapala

Celebrating its global and regional succeess in 2010 with a 60 percent growth in South West Asia, Samsung electronics expressed its desire to improve its position as the most preferred brand of electronic items globally and regionally when it held the Samsung South West Asia Forum 2011 in New Delhi from April 13 to 14.

President and CEO of Samsung South West Asia J.S. Shin, said that its global sales reached US $135.8 billion with a US $ 3.5 billion share from the South West Asian Region, marking 2010 as the most successful year in Samsung’s history.

Shin also said that Samsung will also have a strong presence in the SAARC region as many of its products were sharing the number one position in the SAARC region market.

“As the current number one provider of LED and LCD television in the region, Samsung is challenging the lead position in vital categories such as mobile phones, frost-free refrigerators, air conditioners and washing machines,” Shin told the media at the Samsung Forum 2011 in New Delhi.

“We have the potential to reach the number one market share in numerous categories, while strengthening our partner and channel relationships, particulary in a country such as India where markets are maturing and the potential for growth is unlimited,” he said.

“We also have a very bright market in Sri Lanka after ending three decades of terrorism in the North and the East of the country,” Shin said.

‘We have a sales target of $200 billion by 2013 of which a considerable share will come from the South West Asian region and India will contribute five percent,’ Shin said in response to questions from journalists.

To achieve this ambitious target Samsung electronic is ready with a wide range of electronic items to facilitate ‘smarter life’ for its consumers and come up with its ‘smart life’ philosophy of Smart Design, Smart Experience and Smart Connections.

The Samsung Forum, 2011 showcased its latest products at the exhibition at the Taj Palace Hotel New Delhi for its partners to share the experience of these latest products that are to hit the South West Asian market including Sri Lanka very soon.

It provided an unbelievable experience of connecting each electronic item together television with computers, mobile phones and cameras to computers and printers in vi-fi environment.

The unbelievably thin TV screens, computers, and mobile phones are ready to bring a novel experience to Samsung consumers across the globe.

Samsung’s re-designed models of its flagship LED televisions - the Samsung D8000 and D7000 LED TVs, which virtually eliminate the traditional TV frame with an ultra-narrow front panel, providing extra screen size without increasing the outside dimensions of the set will also be novel feature in the LED Televisions.

Samsung electronics has fine tuned all these electronic items for reduced and efficient usage of energy.

Country Head, Business Operations Samsung Sri Lanka, S. Narayan said the latest products of Samsung including the Galaxy S II will be launched soon in Sri Lanka. Narayan said the government’s decision in reduce import duty last year on many electronic items, helped Samsung in making its products affordable to Sri Lankan consumers.

“We welcome this positive move by the government which should fuel consumption,” he said. According to Narayan, Samsung became number two in mobile phones within a span of a year after it made a direct presence in Sri Lanka.

“Our market share has moved up from 2 percent to 18 percent end last year due to our strong product offering and distribution expansion backed by reliable service network”.

“In the consumer electronics segment, we have already notched up more than 20 percent share in LCD/LED TV segment and are in leadership position.

Our digital camera launch has met with huge success and we hold 10% market share,” he said.

On the appliances side, in the FF Refrigerator and Fully Automatic washing machine segments, Samsung is at double digit market share and it is growing steadily.

“Our objective is to make technology affordable. Samsung has been aggressive with pricing in the Sri Lanka market-we have products catering to mass markets as well as to premium customers”, he said.

“To make our products affordable to Sri Lankans, we will introduce easy payment schemes and other promotional campaigns,” he said.