Panasonic Elektronic Sales Inc. (PTR) is beginning its operations in Turkey. Panasonic Europe Ltd. announced the expanding of company’s Europe sales operations with the opening of a new office in Turkey. Hitoshi Otsuki, Managing Executive Officer and in charge of Overseas Operations of Panasonic; Laurent Abadie, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Panasonic Europe; and Shigeo Suzuki, Director of Panasonic Elektronic Sales Inc. Turkey, organized a press meeting to announce the opening.
PTR, which officially started its operations on 20th January 2010, will play an efficient role in sales and marketing of various Panasonic products to individual consumers and corporate clients in Turkey. As Turk internet, we interviewed with Laurent Abadie, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Panasonic Europe, about the interests and operational plans of Panasonic in Turkish market.
Turk Internet: Hi Mr. Abadie. I would like to ask you a few questions. First of all I wonder why now, in 2010, Panasonic is entering to Turkish market.
Laurent Abadie: We wanted to be ready. We have a local team. We have more than 60 people already here in the company. And we have also strong support from European organization, which is supporting Turkey. So now we are ready, we have the right products. May be you could see 3D HD during the meeting. So I think it is the time to start entering the Turkish market in a very solid way.
Turk Internet: I’d like to ask about your product line in Turkey. Is it just 3D HD’s or are there any Panasonic phones and etc.?
Laurent Abadie: At the first stage we are going to introduce flat panel TV’s, Viera. But also digital hand cameras, audio devices like HiFi and Blue-Ray products. These are at the first stage but we are also thinking about some promotional products, like hand-held cameras or telecom products. And we are also developing telephones. And then step by step we’ll increase our line of products.
Turk Internet: Are you planning a R&D team or a product facility in here, or just maketing operations in the time being?
Laurent Abadie: In terms of marketing we have a local marketing team with a product manager for each product category. We will work to develop products which fit to Turkish market. Some parts of the products are projected to be produced in Europe and some of them in Asia. But maybe in the future we may think some local production if necessary.
Turk Internet: And my last question is about the 3D glasses. They are special glasses of course but many people assume that it is very hard to wear them on and take them off again every time. Are you planning a strategic move, for example for online or offline game playing, or will it be shaped by just contents?
Laurent Abadie: So about 3D content, much content will come. Soon we will have our Blue-ray team. So as you may have seen during the presentation there are about 40 titles that will be produced this year. There are video games also. And there is a possibility that 2D movies will be adapted to 3D. So we are planning to introduce Panasonic plasma, more flat, out of the cage. But of course here we need glasses to enjoy 3D. Your TV will also support to play 2D and 3D both. But for 3D you’ll need the glasses.
Turk Internet: Thank you very much.
Laurent Abadie: Thank you.
Kaynak : 