Capital Outlays for Flat TV Panels to Top 1 Tril. Yen in 2005-2008

By Kyodo News International, Tokyo

Jan. 14–TOKYO — Japanese electrical machinery makers will spend more than 1 trillion yen in four years on domestic factories to expand the production of flat television panels, industry sources said Saturday.

The investment, from 2005 through 2008, is intended to swiftly design, develop and produce liquid crystal display and plasma TV panels, reduce production costs and prevent engineers from being headhunted by overseas rivals, the sources said.

Japanese TV makers anticipate continued rise in demand for flat TVs ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics and a complete shift to terrestrial digital TV broadcasting by 2011.

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