Wednesday, Aug 28, 2013
Dubai: Casio Computer expects 20 per cent increase in sales with the establishment of its regional headquarters at Jebel Ali Free Zone, according to the company’s top executive in the region.
Casio Middle East is scheduled to commence sales and marketing operations from October this year.
Casio has been supplying products in the Middle East through sales agents since the mid-1970s. In 1994, the company set up a representative office in Dubai to function as a point of contact for its customers.
“Middle East and Asia are the two countries which are showing the highest growth in the world. We are positive of achieving our target this year with the launch of new products,” Tsuneo Nagai, Managing Director of Casio Middle East, told Gulf News on the sidelines of a conference on Wednesday.
The Japanese firm with a capital of Dh9 million, expects sales worth 20 billion yen in the next three years from the Middle East.
He said the new office will help supply products to the Middle East and open the gateway to Africa. Jebel Ali provides good facilities for stock operations as Casio aims to expand across the Middle East in the coming years.
The company’s African markets used to be controlled from Japan earlier and with the Dubai office. Casio Middle East aims to look at taking on greater business responsibilities as a gateway to countries in Africa, which are drawing attention as a new growth market.
Vishesh Bhatia, chief executive officer of Jumbo Electronics, one of the main distributors of Casio products in the UAE, said that it is a good idea from Casio’s side to expand its Dubai office.
“We have registered around 15 per cent growth in Casio sales in the first four months of this year compared to the same period last year,” Bhatia said.
In the UAE, Casio has two G-factory outlets [exclusive outlets for watches] in Dubai — at Al Ghurair Centre and Lamcy Plaza.
“We are targeting two more outlets at top shopping malls this year. In three years’ time, we expect 100 exclusive watch showrooms in the region,” Bhatia said.
“The Middle East markets, especially the Gulf countries, have been thriving against the backdrop of robust economic growth and an expanding young population and the region is regarded as a strategic growth market,” Nagai said.
By Naushad K Cherrayil Staff Reporter
Gulf News 2013. All rights reserved.
