Samsung India eyes 70% growth in turnover

Samsung India Electronics Limited is targeting to increase its turnover in Andhra Pradesh to Rs 250 crore from its consumer electronics and home appliances division. This is an increase of around 70 per cent from the last calendar year's Rs 145 crore.

Apart from this, the company is also looking at opening five Samsung Digital Homes/Plazas and one Samsung Digital World outlet in the state by this year-end.

Addressing a press conference, Pradeep Tognatta, senior vice-president (home appliances "� sales), said, "By December-end, we are looking at touching the Rs 250 crore-mark in Andhra Pradesh in terms of revenues. Flat televisions, air-conditioners and refrigerators are likely to be the growth drivers here."

Andhra Pradesh contributes to approximately six per cent of Samsung's total revenues in the home appliances sector, with south contributing to around 28 per cent.

At present, there are four Samsung Digital Homes/Plazas in the state and 73 in the country. The company is planning to double this network in the country by December-end.

"By the end of next month, we will be setting up two digital homes, one each in Vizag and Vijayawada," Tognatta said.

"We are also looking at starting a Digital World outlet in Hyderabad in a couple of months," he added.

The company is also looking at doubling the sales of ACs in the country this year and expects over 50 per cent growth in refrigerator and microwave oven product categories.

"We expect to consolidate our position at the second slot in the country in the AC category and a leadership position in frost-free refrigerators by the end of 2006," Ravinder Zutshi, director (sales and marketing), Samsung India, said.

Samsung India is also commencing export of refrigerators made at its Noida plant to Africa, Middle East and Commonwealth of Independent States countries.

The company plans to export refrigerators to South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation countries. "We plan to export 50,000 frost-free refrigerators and one lakh colour TVs from our Noida facility this year," he added.

Samsung India earned revenues of Rs 4,900 crore in the calendar year 2004 and is targeting to touch Rs 6,500 crore in 2005.

Around 53 per cent of its revenues come from consumer products and home appliances and the remaining from IT and telecom sectors.