Samsung aims to boost home appliance sales in Africa

South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics Co. said Thursday that it is aiming to increase its sales of TVs and other home appliances in African countries by launching premium models and enhancing marketing activity. Samsung released its premium television line-up, including an 85-inch Ultra High Definition TV and high-end refrigerators targeting wealthy African consumers at a road show held on Wednesday in Cape Town, South Africa, the company said. Samsung also unveiled TVs and refrigerators tailored for the African region, which is suffering from power shortages, the company said. Samsung said it plans to increase the number of its premium TV products to 20 in the African TV market this year, up more than 50 percent from a year ago. The company further said it will ramp up marketing activity to solidify its dominant position in the African home appliance market, which has been expanding at the fastest clip in the world. Last year, Samsung's sales of high-quality LED TVs in Africa soared 184 percent from the previous year, with its share of the region's refrigerator market rising to 22.9 percent to rank first for two straight years. Samsung also dominated the African washing machine market with a 39.5 percent share last year, holding the top spot for three consecutive years.