Samsung starts manufacturing locally
South Korean electronics giant Samsung yesterday officially opened two factories in Bangladesh to manufacture five home appliances to cater local markets.
The plants, where LED television, refrigerator, air conditioner, washing machine and microwave oven will be produced, have been set up in joint venture with local Transcom Group and Fair Electronics.
Transcom Electronics inaugurated a new state-of-the-art liquid crystal module production line that is capable of manufacturing 500 units of television panels and assembling 350 television units a day.
The factory is currently run by 100 engineers but it will create further job opportunities in Bangladesh, Transcom Electronics said.
“We have taken this huge endeavour and significant investment considering Bangladeshi customers' benefit,” said Yeamin Sharif Chowdhury, head of business of Transcom Electronics.
The initiative will ensure the availability of genuine Samsung TVs in the country at affordable prices, said Seungwon Youn, managing director of Samsung Electronics Bangladesh.
“Our cooperation with Transcom will always go hand in hand and we believe that this will generate scope for technological development in the TV industry in Bangladesh,” he added.
The LCM line was inaugurated by Saifur Rahman, director of Transcom Group, along with KooYeun Choi, group leader of Samsung Electronics's global strategic business department, Taeho Park, division head of consumer electronics at Samsung Southwest Asia, and Youn.
The plant, which spans 18,000 square feet in the capital's Mohakhali area, started manufacturing televisions on a test basis from last month.
Some 13 models of televisions -- all of which would be less than 55 inches -- will be manufactured at the plant, with some of the components brought in from Vietnam.
Samsung currently has five distribution partners in Bangladesh and the factory will supply televisions to them.
The existing market for televisions stands at about ten lakh units a year. Of the sum, branded products account for 40 percent.
The other factory that was inaugurated yesterday will be run by Fair Electronics.
The plant, located in Shibpur of Narsingdi, was inaugurated by Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu, ICT State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak and Korean Ambassador Ahn Seong-doo.
The plant will manufacture 4 lakh units of refrigerator, 2.5 lakh units of microwave oven, 1.2 lakh units of air conditioner and 50,000 units of washing machine every year, according to Fair Group.
The factory will employ about 3,000 people.