NEW DELHI: Global tech major Toshiba has opened its first futuristic IT showroom, e-Studio, in India. It has also announced investments of $1 million for marketing activities.

In association with HCL Infosystems, Toshiba today launched e-Studio in Delhi. To increase brand awareness and increase sales, Toshiba plans to invest $1 million in marketing activities over the next year. In the pipeline are road shows, seminars and above and below the line advertising campaigns.

The showroom, designed as a simulated office, is the first of its kind in India. In addition to the showroom opening, Toshiba also announced the launch of its latest Digital Multifunctional systems.

e-Studio is designed to be a hi-tech information hub that will provide visitors a first-hand experience of the seamless integration of Internet, Local Area Network, digital processing, desktop software applications, imaging technology and document management. It will showcase the most advanced products from Toshiba, including copiers, facsimiles, notebook PCs, projector TVs, LCD Projectors and especially the e-Studio range of digital multifunctional systems.

Speaking on the occasion, Isao Sugehara, general manager of Electronic Imaging Division, Toshiba Singapore, said: "As an emerging market in Asia, India is fast embracing digitalisation and that is the key reason for our presence in and focus on the Indian market. In fact, we hope to increase our market share from the present 25 per cent to 40 per cent by 2005."

According to him, in light of India's current stable economic conditions where inflation has remained moderate, foreign exchange reserves strong, and exports buoyant, Toshiba is optimistic about achieving its target.

Toshiba expects the increase in demand for its machines to come mainly from companies making the switch from analog to digital. Toshiba will also aggressively market its e-Studio colour machines in India and is targeting for an increase to 10 per cent from the present 2 per cent market share by 2005.

Sugehara, talking about Toshiba's exclusive alliance with HCL Infosystems, added, "The showroom will facilitate HCL in their marketing and sales activities; and also reinforce Toshiba's commitment to India."

Toshiba also unveiled its latest concept, e-Solution, office solutions customisable to any industry. These solutions manage the office workflow, provide digital archiving solutions, optical character recognition solutions to colour management solution and high-volume reproduction solutions. It includes e-Printing, e-Document, e-Tracking, e-Officetools and e-Colour.

Toshiba Corporation is a global high-technology product leader with 315 major subsidiaries and affiliates worldwide. Toshiba Singapore is a wholly owned subsidiary of Toshiba Corporation.