Almasa IT Distribution - Peripherals & Supplies Division takes HP into Iraq

Mr. Parvez Ahmed, Director, Almasa IT Distribution - Peripherals & Supplies Division, said, "Iraq is a rapidly expanding market for technology products. We are seeing strong demand for high end corporate printing requirements as government and ministry departments are established".

Hazem Bazan, Channel Solutions Partners Organisation for HP Middle East commented, "We have appointed Almasa IT Distribution as one of our first Iraqi distributors because of their historically strong Iraqi reseller relationships and their proven success at in-country channel development. There are several factors that position Almasa IT Distribution - Peripherals & Supplies Division as one of our distributors, but most important to HP is their established Middle East logistics operations allowing quicker deployment of HP products where and when they are needed".

Mr. Lancy Menzes, HP Business Unit Manager, Almasa IT Distribution - Peripherals & Supplies Division explained that the company had already identified 15 leading resellers selling into the corporate sector and a broad base of additional channel partners whom they will be partnering with. "Almasa IT Distribution has an established relationship with the Iraqi channel allowing us to extend credit lines that benefit all parties. With our local presence and logistics ex-Jebel Ali we believe we have a winning formula for both the Iraqi channel and consumers in-country".

Logistics within Iraq are fluid with routes changing on a daily basis due to the troubles in the region. As a result any international product being sold in the country can have an unpredictable delivery date and may carry a premium price tag. Mr. Ahmed commented how this was in fact one of the reasons why they are so pleased to be partnering with HP. "HP printers and consumables have one of the lowest fault rates in the industry compared with other competitor products. As local service centers have yet to be established in Iraq, the lower the total logistics of a product range, the lower the cost and the happier the end user".

Almasa IT Distribution - Peripherals & Supplies Division are ready to provide in-country logistics when the time is right and are keen to support vendors reinforce their warrantee commitments with in-country service centres.

Mr. Menzes further commented on the major HP product range that they expect to be selling in the region by saying, "In terms of Iraq, and due to the re-construction in the region, there is a huge demand on HP Large Format Plotters, for CAD and GIS applications. We have seen a very strong demand for HP's series of Designjets that range from A3 to A0++ (up to 60" in width) that offers versatile solutions to the CAD / GIS market".

Product Availability
Almasa IT Distribution - Peripherals & Supplies Division are selling the full range of HP printing and imaging products into Iraq starting immediately.