Korean major Samsung is aggressive on its growth plans in the portable PC market in India. After introducing its first Series 5 Ultrabook in India next week, Samsung is aiming to place its products at a premium level instead of waging a price war. Sungwon Song, senior vice-president, Samsung, talks to Dipti Jain and reveals much more. Excerpts:

What are your growth plans for the PC segment in India considering you are still at a nascent stage?

India is among the top ten markets for us in the world and in the next two to three years, it will be among the top three. Relatively, our growth has been greater in the smartphone and television segment . Indian market is very crucial to us, reason being that we have seen very good growth even though we entered late. We would want to set up our infrastructure and invest more in the country as this is the right time.

What are your expectations from the Ultrabook you will be launching next week?

We will be launching a series of products this year in the PC segment especially targeted to Indian customers. We will also launch the second generation Samsung Series 9 in April, which will be the world's thinnest and lightest product. The new launches will contribute to doubling our volume growth in India.

The year 2011 saw good growth in smartphone and tablet segment for Samsung . But the major headwind was the slowing growth in global PC sales. For 2012, what will be your roadmap to boost growth in the PC market?

Smartphones and tablets have reached the peak of their growth, but the PC segment still continues to grow for us. Good part is that there is no cannibalization of one because of the other. There were some factors for slowdown in the third and the fourth quarter last year, but that was because of the depreciating rupee and the rising input costs due to the floods in Thailand.

But total growth throughout the year was great. We see sentiments getting back to normal this year and so growth will pick up. We aim to contribute to Indian IT industry with the new products and have an aggressive investment plan for India in the first quarter this year.

What is your market share in PCs in India?

Currently we have an 8% share in the market. We aim to increase it to 12-13 % this year.

Source :timesofindia.indiatimes.com