MERLION – HP conference in Baikal

Irkutsk, April 21, 2006 – MERLION, the leading Russian distributor of computer and digital devices, and Hewlett - Packard Corp., a world’s leading provider of key technologies for corporate and end-customers, had a joint conference for managers and specialists of regional computer companies.

The conference in Irkutsk was a part of the HP-MERLION Strategic Partnership. The main purpose was to foster business with partners of one of the remote yet promising Russian regions.

More than 50 representatives of 16 computer companies in Irkutsk, Sayansk and Angarsk attended the conference. These included companies of different types (wholesalers, systems integrators, retailers).

There were the following issues to be presented at the conference: MERLION 2006: Its Objectives and Development Strategy; Why cooperate with MERLION Systems Solutions, HP Printing and Digital Image Processing Products; HP Mobile Solutions; HP Channel Policy; ProCurve Networking by HP the Best in Network Industry. All the issues were of great interest to MERLION partners from Baikal region.

At the same time representatives of MERLION, MERLION System Solutions, HP, ProCurve Networking by HP met individually with dealers. They could get the feedback from their regional partners and discuss some relevant issues of prospects for partnership.
A relaxed atmosphere of the conference with an exciting entertainment show, games and informal talks made it possible for partners to be on friendly terms and get to know each other better.

In his comments on the outcome of the conference, Mr. Pavel Ovchinnikov, emphasized, “Meeting with dealers proved that the interest of corporate-and end-customers to Hewlett - Packard products has not decreased in Baikal region. We are going to do our best to meet the growing demands and ensure our partners access to the products of the world’s leading distributor”.

The first joint conference with MERLION met the vendor’s expectations. According to Mr. Sergei Bezlyudov, HP Partnership Manager, “the conference gave us a better understanding of the demands and expectations the partners in Eastern Siberia have as well as allow us to discuss the HP partnership policy in the regions”.