Samsung Electronics, which quadrupled second-quarter profit from flat screens used in computer monitors and televisions, is seeking to increase sales of its products to hotels and other businesses in Hong Kong and Macau.
The focus will be on selling mobile phones and liquid crystal display (LCD) televisions, while South Korea-based Samsung also sees a huge opportunity for its multi-function printers, digital cameras, LCD monitors and notebook personal computers.
"We're talking to top-level decision makers to adopt our product lines in various areas, including as new amenities in guest rooms and offices and for loyalty programmes," said Kim Byung-wook, managing director of Samsung operations in Hong Kong and Macau. "We have a good chance of increasing our market share with this corporate strategy.
"Hong Kong serves as our test bed and main showcase for all new products to the Greater China market because this market always adopts the latest technologies. With all the new investments being made in Macau, we see big potential there. That is why we plan to set up an office in Macau next year," Mr Kim said.
He declined to reveal any financial goals, but said the corporate strategy had prompted Samsung to pursue aggressive product shipment targets.
Samsung, which makes its own LCD panels, is targeting sales of up to 18,000 LCD televisions in Hong Kong this year, up from 14,000 last year. That would ensure the company remained the dominant supplier in the city.
Mr Kim cited estimates by market research firm GfK Asia, which found demand in Hong Kong to be about 25,000 units last year.
He said Samsung was looking to build up premium LCD television sales in Macau via the large hotel chains moving into the new gaming and entertainment sites in the former Portuguese enclave.
"[Samsung's] early mover advantage into the 52-inch LCD TV space should widen its lead against peers in the higher-margin premium TV segment just ahead of this year's holiday season," said Nomura International analyst Chung Sun in a research note.
Samsung is also targeting sales of one million mobile phones this year in Hong Kong and Macau, as companies in both cities extend office applications to staff via advanced mobile access devices.
Mr Kim did not provide sales figures last year. About 80 per cent of the company's more than 20 handset models due for release this year are slider phones.
"We are currently ranked No3 in Hong Kong, behind Nokia and Sony Ericsson," he said, adding that Samsung's new worldwide ranking was more impressive as the beneficiary of another rival's setback.
Motorola's poor second-quarter performance in the global market paved the way for Samsung to gain market share over the United States mobile phone manufacturer, according to market research firm iSuppli.
Samsung shipped 37.4 million mobile handsets during the period, a 7.5 per cent increase from 34.8 million units in the first quarter. This gave Samsung a market share of 14.1 per cent, up from 13.8 per cent in the first quarter - allowing it to displace Motorola as the world's second-largest mobile-phone supplier.
Motorola shipped 35.5 million mobile phones in the second quarter on old models sales. That meant a 21.8 per cent fall from 45.4 million units in the first quarter. Its market share plunged to 13.3 per cent from 17.9 per cent.
"The mobile-handset business moves fast; the rapid pace of innovation means that products that were red hot last quarter are ice cold the next quarter," said iSuppli wireless communications analyst Tina Teng.