Tatung looks to Thai solar scene
Taiwanese consumer-electronics maker Tatung is keen on solar energy
and sees Thailand as the next logical step in its expansion plan.
Published on February 4, 2008
"Thailand is a hot country. The market itself has good potential for
products with solar-cell technology," Wei Shan Lin, chairman and
president of Tatung, said last week.
"We are looking into setting up a production plant for solar-cell
technology products in Thailand," he said on his visit to Bangkok to
preside over the opening of Tatung's first showroom here.
Tatung manufactures electronic products, including flat-screen TVs,
for more than 10 major Japanese and European brands at its new Bt80-
million plant on an 80-rai site in Chon Buri's Amata ****orn Industrial
Park.
Since Tatung branched into solar technology in Taiwan five years ago,
sales there have grown rapidly, reaching 10 billion Taiwan dollars
(Bt10 billion) last year.
Tatung has already invested US$100 million (Bt3.3 billion) in wafer
production in Taiwan, and $100 million more will be allocated to its
ongoing project to make thin-film solar cells.
Wafers are of key im****tance in the fabrication of semiconductor
devices such as integrated circuits.
"Actually, we already have the technology related to solar cells," Lin
said. "However, the supply chain isn't ready yet in Thailand. We would
like the Thai government to give privileges and initiatives for such
investment in the country," he said.
Charlie Lan, president of Tatung (Thailand), said Tatung had started
marketing here about a year ago. Its first showroom and sales outlet
is at its plant.
"We plan to open two to three more this year, in Bangkok and Chiang
Mai," he said.
Lin expects to have 300 Tatung outlets in Taiwan alone this year and
about 100 will be opened annually in Taiwan over the next few years.
The Tatung showroom offers a wide range of top-quality audio-visual,
home appliance and IT products and also accommodates a service centre,
with Bt20 million in sup****t from Tatung headquarters in Taipei.
The aim is to promote the Tatung brand in Thailand as a gateway to
Asean. CRT and LCD TVs are already ex****ted from Thailand to Burma,
Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Australia.
"We achieved domestic sales of $2 million last year, but we expect to
grow our sales in Thailand 20-fold to about $38 million this year,"
Lan said.
The company wants to promote local sales to avoid the impact on
ex****ts from baht appreciation.
The revenue contribution from overseas sales is expected to shrink
from 60 per cent last year to only 13 per cent this year, with
domestic sales increasing from 12 per cent to 75 per cent. The
remaining revenue will come from other businesses.
Kwanchai Rungfapaisarn
The Nation
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