Strong demand for projectors in classrooms across the Middle East and Africa is expected to drive sales growth by as much as 25 per cent at BenQ, one of Taiwan's biggest electronics manufacturers.
The company said projectors were its fastest-growing product line, with schools ranking as the biggest customers.
It expects a 25 per cent boost in revenues from the Middle East and Africa this year, led by schools increasing their use of projectors as teaching aids.
Manish Bakshi, the general manager of BenQ for the Middle East and Africa, said government investment in schools in the region was a major factor in his rosy growth forecast.
"Every government in the Middle East is investing hugely in schools, colleges and the education sector - which helps to push the projector sales," he said.
Mr Bakshi said that would contribute to an overall increase in revenues from BenQ's IT and consumer products division.
"We hope that we can grow by 25 per cent, both on the revenue and the units [sold]," he said.
"We had a growth of around 8 per cent in 2011 versus 2010, on the revenue and profit side. The best segment we grew was the projectors, followed by monitors, cameras and then TVs."
The company reported a 35 per cent rise in its projector sales in the Middle East and Africa last year.
Mr Bakshi said the company outperformed the global projector business, where the average growth stands at 12 per cent.
"In 2012 we are expecting another 40 per cent growth both in units and revenue across the region," he said but declined to specify sales figures.
Reduced social upheaval in parts of the region was also behind the more positive growth outlook.
"In 2011, there was a lot of political instabilities in many countries, which brought the growth down. The political instability shouldn't have that kind of an effect in 2012," Mr Bakshi said.
BenQ yesterday announced the launch of three projector products in the Middle East market.
These include a mini-projector with a built-in dock for an Apple iPhone, and the SmartEco range, which the company says reduces power consumption by between 26 and 70 per cent.
The firm is part of the BenQ Group, which also includes businesses in the manufacturing, medical and technology sectors.
