Japan's Nikon invests more in Thailand
(Recasts with Nikon's comments)
BANGKOK/TOKYO, July 4 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikon Corp. (7731.T) has invested 519 million baht ($15.2 million) to expand its production of digital cameras and optical products in Thailand, a company official said on Wednesday.
The expansion would raise Nikon's production of digital single lens reflex (SLR) cameras to 300,000 per month in the year ending March 2008, up from 290,000 at the end of March 2007, Nikon spokeswoman Sayaka Suzuki said.
The company also aimed to raise the Thai production capacity of interchangeable lenses to 300,000 per month in 2007/08, up from 290,000 in 2006/07, she said.
Thailand's Board of Investment said in a statement it had approved Nikon's expansion plan for its factory at the Rojana Industrial estate in the central province of Ayutthaya, which prompted Nikon to hire more 5,000 people.
Nikon is the world's second-largest maker of digital SLRs after Canon Inc (7751.T).
Digital SLRs are generally more expensive and have more advanced features than point-and-shoot compact models, and use interchangeable lenses.
In March, Nikon said the Thai factory, which used to make film cameras, was the main manufacturing base for DSLRs and lenses with 15,000 staff.
($1 = 34.22 Baht)
(Additional reporting by Mayumi Negishi in Tokyo)
((Reporting by Khettiya Jittapong, editing by Michael Battye; Reuters Messaging: khettiya.jittapong.reuters.com@reuters.net; +662 648 9728)) Keywords: THAILAND NIKON/
(C) Reuters 2007. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution ofReuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expresslyprohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters and the Reuterssphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group ofcompanies around the world.nBKK269616
- Tweet this
- Link this
- Share this
- Digg this
- Reprints
Follow Reuters