Canon registers growth in slowdown

IT peripheral business division of Canon India claims to have registered a
growth of 49 percent, compared to the growth in first half (H1) of last year,
and has clocked revenue of Rs 93 crore in first half of this year.

“Industry grew by five percent and we registered a growth of 49 percent in
this H1 compared last year H1. When everyone was cutting on their visibility
cost, we went aggressive in the market,” said VP Sajeevan, Assistant
Director-Consumer System Products, Canon India.

In H1, 2009, Canon did 17 mega style exhibition, 198 roadshows and 59 channel
meet. "All these efforts have helped us in reaching out to 21 lakh consumers in
last six months," said Sajeevan.

As the government of India has set aim for paperless governance in next five
years and will be required to archive data in printed form, Canon is confident
on increase in demand for print business. The company has set its eye to meet Rs
850 crore revenue by this year and by 2010 it aims to touch revenue figure of Rs
1,000 crore.

While Canon's laser printer business registered a growth of 160 percent and
gained 31 percent share of the market, the company has witnessed 33 percent
growth in scanner business from government segment, especially purchased for
archiving government documents.

“There are lots of new government projects coming up like e-literacy in
Maharashtra and e-governance projects in Gujarat which are going to push
business opportunity for IT peripherals," he added. Canon will now pump around
Rs 10 crore for its marketing plans.

(Source: CIOL)