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New technologies and improved print management can save UAE business AED 540 million annually on printing costs

Lower printing costs to benefit businesses across all sectors - delivering productivity gains, reduced waste and improved environmental performance

Dubai, UAE 14^th April 2009: cebr, an independent economic research consultancy, conducted a research on the UAE printing industry market estimating that organizations can save between AED 238 million and AED 540 million per year on printing costs. Recent developments in technology and improved management printing solutions have created the opportunity for business and public sectors to make a substantial contribution to productivity and competitiveness by using in house printing.

"With the right management and infrastructure, companies can enjoy fast in house printing at a lower cost, saving manpower and materials." said John Ross, general manger, Middle East, India and North Africa for OKI Printing Solutions . Emirati business spends around AED 5,102 million each year on printed material; including AED 1,136 million on outsource printing, larger in size than the entire Emirati legal sector.

With the latest printing technology the need of outsourcing is becoming less necessary for firms to use expensive specialist printing services. In house printers allow business to share documents electronically from the internet, emails and print them immediately. Second, print on demand and achieve professional quality prints that are cost effective and more environmentally friendly. Printing stationary, business cards, signage, labels and other marketing material can now be brought in house. The report estimates that Emirati companies can save AED 98 million per year by brining currently outsourced printing functions in house.

Greater saving can be made in terms of staff time; printer and consumable costs thanks to Managed Print Services that helps identify and manage opportunities for efficiency in document printing operations. This implies that Emirati business could save between AED 140 million and AED 442 million per year.

The most intensive printing takes place in the educational, postal and courier services sectors, followed by the advertising and architectural activities that make up the largest share of turnover. "Overall, we estimate that the cost of in house printing at firms account for 0.5% of Emirati gross value added, this is nearly twice as much as the value of outsourced printing," added John Ross.

Also, the use of in house printing could benefit the environment and lead to a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions of up to 9,000 tonnes and of carbon fuel use by up to 4,000 tones per year and a reduction, the equivalent of taking nearly 2,500 cars off UAE's roads.

Printing is an essential function of all businesses and has been changing rapidly. Confirms John Ross, "In turn, these changes have created a real opportunity for better printing solutions to make a significant contribution to improved productivity and competitive edge. In responding to this, OKI Printing Solutions has both the technology and knowledge to help organizations manage their printing in-house more cost-effectively."

For further information about OKI visit www.okime.ae

-Ends-

• OKI Printing Solutions is the brand name of Oki Data Corporation
• Annual turnover for Oki Data Corporation is 187.1 billion yen (approx. $1.6bn, FY06)
• OKI Printing Solutions ' sales are divided between 50% EMEA, 24% Americas, 17% Asia and Oceania and 9% Others
• OKI Printing Solutions is represented in 120 countries worldwide
• Oki Electric, established in 1881, is a Japanese electronics manufacturer with an annual turnover of 718.8 billion yen (approx. $6.1bn, FY06)
• Oki Electric employs approx. 21,380 people throughout the world with 6,975 employees outside Japan
• More details on Oki Electric can be found at www.oki.com

© Press Release 2009