Korean giant Sam-sung Electronics occupies the top spot in the UAE for the TFT-LCD (thin film transistor-liquid crystal display) market and is very strong throughout the rest of the Middle East, the company said.
Samsung is making a concerted push to move clear of the field in the Middle East where it is in the number one position in Syria as well.
The company has a 20.1 per cent share of the world's TFT-LCD market and has maintained its position as global leader in that field for the third consecutive year.
The successes of Samsung Electronics' monitors were outlined by one of the company's most senior executives, TH Kim. On a visit to Dubai, Kim, who is senior vice-president for strategy and marketing, said: "The purpose of my trip to the Middle East is to hear the latest on the market situation, which is particularly healthy, and to take action to boost our market share. Strategic planning will be implemented." He had meetings with Samsung Gulf electronics general manager DK Byeon and other top executives.
Kim said Samsung "invested heavily and in an insightful way and can handle all areas of monitors from the very start to the finished product".
"We cover from the raw materials to technical vertical integration through to the supply chain management and the global marketing strategy. Indeed here in Dubai we have an impressive logistical operation for the region."
Samsung had correctly predicted that market trends would favour larger-screen TFT-LCDs. The company's decision to focus on 14.1-inch LCDs for notebook PCs proved to be effective.
"Samsung has studied all aspects of the business of monitors for 20 years - that is the key to our success and that's why we are number one," said Kim, adding, "we're a very clear number one in 30 countries and are determined to boost that even more. We're the market leader throughout Europe plus we're making huge inroads in developing areas like the CIS. China. Brazil and India."
Samsung is the only manufacturer in the top five worldwide to increase its market share in 2000, according to a survey conducted by market research company IDC, Japan. Samsung recorded a market share of 18.8 per cent in 1999. In 2000, the company widened the gap between it and the second ranked company by from 2.3 per cent to 5.4 per cent.
