The official opening ceremomy (Credit: Saudi Gazette)
The Saudi subsidiary of the OEM’s Middle East division, Canon Middle East (CME), has officially opened its first office and business solutions showroom in the national capital of Riyadh.
The company was formed in partnership with Ali Zaid Al Quraishi & Brothers (AZAQ) in June 2018, and with its new premises, along with additional offices and showrooms in Jeddah and Khobar, will represent “the largest regional B2B direct presence for Canon in the Middle East region,” the Saudi Gazette reports.
The inauguration was attended by various senior executives from the OEM, including Executive Vice President of Canon Europe’s Developing Regions Business Group Stefano Zenti, Managing Director of Canon Middle East and Canon Eurasia, Anurag Agrawal, and Chairman of AZAQ, Faisal Al Quraishi.
The OEM has spoken of its belief that the establishment of a “long-term presence” in Saudi Arabia will both add value to the economy, and contribute to the development of a “sophisticated digital infrastructure,” mandated by its Vision 2030, to attract new investors and enhance the Saudi economy’s competitiveness.
Canon Saudi Arabia plans to further expand its range of business products and services across the country’s market, where there is “a growing need” for digital and technology-based imaging services, which will serve to support a “more agile, robust, and efficient” business environment.
“Canon Saudi Arabia is strategically positioned to support the nation’s ambitions of developing a competitive business environment in the region’s largest economy, which is expected to grow by 1.8 percent this year and by 2.1 percent in 2020,” said Anurag Agrawal. “We have invested in the market to provide better wider coverage and deliver a holistic approach to business solutions.”
Agrawal continued: “Whether these businesses are large corporations or small and medium enterprises, our innovative services and solutions are customisable to address the businesses’ requirements and position them as leaders in their respective industries. This drives business competency to allow for economic growth and competitiveness of Saudi-based businesses on a global scale.”
Canon Saudi Arabia also plans to invest in its employee base, increasing their skills and capabilities through “extensive” learning and development programmes, that will focus on embracing and enhancing the talent of the country’s youth, to support the nation’s ‘Saudization’ drive. It is hoped that these programmes will grow the subsidiary’s workforce to 300 employees by the year 2023.
“The joint venture and partnership between CME and AZAQ comes as a result of a long business relationship between Canon and Al Quraishi Group that is 50 years in the making; and this development comes as natural progression of our successful business ties,” explained Faisal Al Quraishi. “AZAQ sees this partnership as a contribution to the country’s 2030 vision whereby Canon, a global brand, contributes to the Kingdom’s transformation through its innovative technologies and solutions. Furthermore, the partnership will be highly committed to train young Saudi nationals as well as advance technology in private and government sectors alike.”
Shadi Bakhour, B2B Business Unit Director for Canon Middle East and General Manager of Canon Saudi Arabia, added: “According to recent reports, The Kingdom’s print market is estimated to pass the $7 billion (€6.16 billion) mark in 2022, which is a testament to the growth opportunities available in this sector. Through our strategy of being closer to our customers in Saudi, we are able to meet this demand and offer services that address their challenges and creates opportunities for them. Our Managed Print Services for instance ensures efficiency, minimizes downtime, and saves on costs so businesses can focus on their core offering.”
Canon Saudi Arabia is also following its parent company’s corporate philosophy of ‘Kyosei’, meaning living and working together for the common good. In this spirit, the subsidiary is hoping to establish a strong relationship with Saudi society, through environment initiatives and community welfare programmes, that aim to ‘give back’, by supporting various causes.
