UITHOORN, The Netherlands—Building on a strong position in the Russian Federation through a longtime local distributor, Hoya is now entering the market directly to provide better service and further develop its customer base, according to an announcement from the company. Hoya sees significant opportunities to expand its business in Russia and become a leading provider of advanced eyecare products, services and technologies.

Evgeny Shumilov, managing director of Hoya Lens RUS, said, "We look forward to building on the success the Hoya brand has enjoyed in Russia over the past 11 years. We intend to foster close relationships with our customers, and are highly committed to enriching their practice with best-in-class lens materials, designs and surface treatments. By launching new services for our customers, we will continue our innovation strategy."

Hans Werquin, CEO of Hoya Vision Care Europe, added, "We are immensely proud to establish our own entity in Russia. The country is one of our key strategic markets with exciting potential for value-added vision correction products. Hoya greatly values its close proximity to its customers, offering them quick access to the latest innovations and technologies, providing direct support and building business in partnership. A presence in Russia will allow us to strengthen this relationship and lay the foundations for future growth."