Panasonic steps up to meet doubling energy demand and targets double digit growth in Saudi Arabia

The company has set high benchmarks to engage and promote green lifestyle through business innovation. In line with this, the company is stepping up to meet the doubling energy demand in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and is participating in the first ever HVAC Confex 2013.

Panasonic Marketing Middle East and Africa (PMMAF) is pursuing the global vision of becoming the no 1 green innovation company in the world by 2018 and such participations are aimed at reaffirming the green commitment. In 2012 Panasonic was ranked 6th in InterBrands Best Global Green Brands, which was 4 spots up from last year (2012) and the Highest ranking for any Consumer Electronics Company.

The kingdom of Saudi Arabia is currently experiencing a manifold rise in the demand for electricity, which is anticipated to be growing at an alarming rate of 8% annually, coupled with 70% of residential power consumption being used for air conditioning, ventilation and power heating. Also, with more than 1.5 million new homes needed to keep pace with population growth, domestic energy demand in Saudi Arabia is anticipated to double by 2030.

Commenting on the participation, Norihiro Ohara, General Manager, Panasonic Marketing Middle East and Africa, Saudi Arabia Office said, "With the region facing an ongoing and steep demand for domestic energy, it is imperative that the region embarks on newer and improved ways of sustaining energy and reaching its goals of conserving it for a longer term. We believe that events like the HVAC Confex will help towards promoting significant energy saving ways whilst protecting the natural resources of the country".

Panasonic's solution to this sustainable and energy efficient solution is a combination of products that will be showcased and announced at the HVAC Confex. According to Euromonitor International, the Kingdom's consumer appliances industry is expected to be experiencing an increase in the demand of home appliances over the next few years, supported by a rise in residential construction.

"With the new products which will be launched during the conference we are very positive that both government officials and industry specialists will be proud of the new products which are designed specially for this region to cater to the local consumer needs. Being the first of its kind in the region, the exhibition is deemed to fill a niche in the ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) industry and creates an ideal platform for decision makers and industry leaders alike", commented Mr Tachibana Hidekazu, Director, Consumer Electronics Department at Panasonic Marketing Middle East & Africa (PMMAF).

Consumers across the Middle East and Africa have benefitted from Panasonic's robust portfolio of green products. These products have been internally certified as having achieved the industry's top environmental performance in terms of energy saving, effective utilization of resources and the management of chemical substances.

The company adopted eco declaration as its forward steps towards attaining and promoting a greener lifestyle. To achieve this goal, the company is pursuing its Eco Ideas for Lifestyles by promoting sustainable and comfortable green lifestyles as well as Eco Ideas for Business-styles with aims to reduce the environmental impact of its operations to a maximum extent and spread technologies and ideas that are brought forth through such reduction efforts.

Commenting on the importance of the event, H.E. Saleh Alawaji, Deputy Minister of the Saudi Ministry of Water & Electricity said, "We have found that the increasing demand for power is due to factors such as a leap in population growth over the last decade, the latest increase in government-funded infrastructure projects and developments in the housing sector. Over the next five years, Saudi Arabia plans to build numerous new homes and with this will invite significant investment into HVAC facilities. I strongly believe that events such as Saudi HVAC CONFEX 2013 are vital in creating solutions and formulating strategies towards supplying to the Kingdom's energy needs."

Taking place from February 11th-13th at the Al Faisaliah Hotel in Riyadh, the HVAC Confex in Saudi Arabia is the first ever conference and exhibition for sustainable cooling and heating solutions, illustrating the determination of stakeholders in the electricity sector to apply technologies that boost energy efficiency in Saudi Arabia.