Panasonic will not be affected by the Sony-Toshiba-Hitachi cartel to create the largest LCD unit in Japan, said Mr Daizo Ito, President, Panasonic India. Refusing to comment any further on this as it would too premature, he said their idea is to create a merged entity to become the world's biggest maker of small liquid-crystal display screens for mobile phones and cameras, whereas Panasonic is in the business of making big screens for television sets.

Two days ago, Sony, Toshiba, Hitachi announced that they would spin off and merge their LCD manufacturing units to create Japan Display KK. The Government-backed Innovation Network Corp of Japan will own 70 per cent of the merged venture (after $2.6 billion investment), while these companies will split the remaining 30 pr cent.

Talking about Panasonic India, Mr Ito said the company has 7 per cent share in the around 6-million-unit flat-panel TV market. “Our target is to garner 10 per cent of that market by the end of the current financial year.” For the current festival season that began with Onam in Kerala, the company has drawn up a marketing budget of Rs 100 crore. (For the whole year, the company's marketing budget is Rs 600 crore).

First Brand Shop

Mr Ito was here in connection with the seventh anniversary of the company's first Brand Shop — Shubh Labh — in Chennai.

Apart from the FPD segment, Panasonic will focus more on health and beauty care products division as “this is one of the fastest growing segments here.” It is also planning to launch “a few more” health care products such as blood-sugar meters.

Besides, it plans to double its 1-million-a-year electric cooker unit in the next two-to-three years. Refusing to put a figure to the proposed investment, Mr Hidenori Aso, Managing Director of Panasonic Home Appliances India Co Ltd, (a 51:49 joint venture between Panasonic and the Obul Reddy family), said the company “has enough space” and the investment will only be for the plant.

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