India's parallel import declines by 20 percent

By siliconindia   |   Monday, 21 July 2008, 22:49 IST
Printer Print Email Email
New Delhi: Drawing good sign to the Indian IT industry, the parallel imports of IT hardware products of the country has declined by 20 percent. It is believed that the decline is as a result of the falling prices of these products and also the constant awareness drive by the vendors. Vinnie Mehta, Executive Director, Manufacturers' Association of Information Technology said that growing parallel import was a threat few years ago but now that has reduced to 10-20 percent due to domestic price reductions and companies education drive. Printers, laptops and networking products are imported mostly by this way. Alok Bhardwaj, Senior Vice-President, Canon India, said "Parallel imports are not a permanent feature. It is exploited by opportunists. At Canon, around 20 percent of the cartridges market is occupied by parallel importers." According to the industry sources, parallel imports are mostly coming from China, Malaysia, Singapore, Korea and Thailand, in the forms of laptop bags, IT furniture, pen drives, memory cards, battery, sells and computer cabinet.