Panasonic Marketing Middle East (PMM), the regional marketing headquarters for the Japanese consumer electronics and telecom products manufacturer Panasonic, has appointed Orient Planet PR and Marketing Communications as its public relations agency in the Middle East. This move is part of a strategic plan to strengthen its presence in the Middle East and Africa region.
“Panasonic has devised an aggressive strategy to expand its operations and product diversity in the Middle East, as market trends have identified the region as one of the fastest growing as far as electronic and telecommunication products are concerned,” said Masato Tomita, PMM managing director.
“A strong corporate communications strategy is a crucial component of Panasonic’s plan for regional expansion. The appointment of Orient Planet as our PR agency for the region is part of that strategy aimed at generating higher growth through brand development and media coverage,” says Atsushi Hinoki, PR and Advertising general manager at PMM.
The Middle East region is estimated to have a total market turnover of seven billion dollars for consumer electronics, of which about 15 to 20 percent is commanded by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Panasonic is now seeking to increase its current share of 22 percent of the UAE market, and make significant inroads into the regional markets of the Gulf, Middle East and Africa. Its turnover in the Middle East and Africa region for the last financial year ended March 2002 was one billion dollars.
The Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Ltd. of Japan, best known for its Panasonic, National and Technics brands, is an international development and manufacturing company of electronics products for a range of consumer, business and industrial needs.
Based in Osaka, Japan, the company posted consolidated sales of $61.45 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2001. In addition to stock exchanges in Tokyo (6752) and other major cities in Japan, Matsushita's shares are also listed on the Amsterdam, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, New York, Pacific and Paris stock exchanges.
Panasonic Gulf FZE (PGF) is MEI’s first subsidiary company in the Middle East, followed by Panasonic Marketing Middle East (PMM), which is the regional marketing headquarters of MEI for operations in the Middle East and African countries. — (menareport.com)
© 2002 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
