Canon completes channel education programme for partners

New Delhi

August 1st, 2007

Canon India marked the completion of their channel education program called
"Canon Gurukul" across India. Canon Gurukul was aimed at enhancing the
skill-sets of the sales employees of authorized partners. This education
initiative was not linked to sales and was targeted at the sales staff of
partners. The aim was to shape personalities of sales employees and the training
included modules on personality development and other soft-skills in addition to
sales and product training.

Elaborating on the Canon's Gurukul initiative Som Gangopadhyay, Director
(Marketing and Sales Channels) - Business Imaging Solutions Division, Canon
India said "There were various marketing plans that engaged the canon
empowered partners to discuss the business models and guide the partners to be
able to maintain sustainable businesses. The program highlighted the merits of
"Value Shift" in businesses by partners and helps them to enter
enterprise imaging market."

Canon will be taking up new initiatives for their B2B products and is
planning to reach 600 by the end of December 2007 and has extensive plans of
enhancing the program during their roll our in the four metros during July -
August '07.

Canon's Gurukul is a training program for its channels. The first phase of
this campaign covered all the major metros. While in the second phase was
focused on tapping B and C class cities. Canon intends to conduct two training
programs every month, covering metros and then further move on to regional
training, which will be on a monthly basis.

Gangopadhyay further added, "We need to align the second tier channel
towards better and higher value proposition and thereby increase the
relationship value".