Hitachi targets higher market share in India

New Delhi, June 28 (UNI) Hitachi Home Electronics, a Singapore based subsidiary of Hitachi Japan, today said it is targeting a 20 per cent share in India's high-end consumer electronics market by 2008 from the present 17 per cent, besides doubling its dealership base to 300 by 2006.

''The sustained high GDP growth in India has made it a focus market for us. Giving further impetus to this will be an aggressive brand building exercise driven by an advertising and promotion spend of Rs 12 crore dedicated to LCD and televisions in 2006-07,'' HHES Deputy General Manager T Haruki said.

A majority of the sum will be spent on campaigns in the electronic media, then on print media and outdoor activities, Hitachi Country Head Tarun Jain said at the launch of 1080HD 42 inch plasma television.

The market demand for television sets is currently 25,000 units and would rise to 80,000 units by 2008, he said.

In India from December 2003, the company sells it products through seven galleries and a network of 120 dealers across the country. It would also ramp up the number of its galleries to 17 by the end of this year.

On being asked if the group is considering to set up a manufacturing unit in the country, Mr Jain said, ''the market here is still too small for such initiative.'' While launching its latest 1080HD 42 inch plasma television, the company also announced plans to introduce its range of other products like DVD camcorders and LCD projectors in India to tap customers in the B and C segments.

Headquartered in Tokyo, the company will invest 3,500 million dollar on Research and Development activities to fuel innovation and growth across group companies.

It spent around 4.3 per cent of its total revenue of 80.89 billion dollar on R&D last year.

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