HEWLETT-Packard (HP),a U.S.-based Computers/Office Equipment Company, is to establish branches in five African countries by the end of this year.

The countries are Ghana, Kenya, Botswana, Mauritius and Nigeria.

This is in line with HP’s policy of shifting focus from the European and Asian countries to the African continent.

The company will zone the continent into two; South East, to represent English speaking countries and North West to represent French speaking countries.

A five-member team assigned to study the market base for Ghana’s operations yesterday met media men to brief them on their visions for the country.

The Sales Manager for Africa, Mr Thierm Boulanger, said HP has, through its advanced creative technology, established itself as the worldwide market leader in IT.

He said the company, in collaboration with local telecommunications industry aims at developing a market in Africa to improve IT in the continent.

He said this will enable the company to produce products which could operate effectively in the continent.

Mr Boulanger said one area on which HP will concentrate in the country is the use of information appliances such as watches, mobile phones and calculators for Internet services.

He said HP will also design products specifically for Ghana which can be affordable to the average IT user.

Mr Boulanger noted that the challenges in the business sector demand that IT companies expose their customers to innovative and convenient ways of conducting business.

He said in order to facilitate effective operations, the company will train local technicians in maintenance and repair of its products.