Sharp’s Taiwanese saviour in waiting shows off Japan prize

SAVIOUR?: Gou (centre) is surrounded by the media after a news conference in Tokyo. Hon Hai Precision Industries wants to finalise its agreement on investment in troubled Japanese TV maker Sharp Corp this week, the Taiwanese firm's chairman told reporters on Monday. — Reuters

TOKYO: Terry Gou, founder of Hon Hai Precision Industries, will soon show off an advanced LCD panel factory he jointly owns with Sharp to a delegation of fellow Taiwanese that has become a symbol of how he may save the Japanese firm from the wreck of Japan’s sinking TV industry.

Feeble demand that left the US$4bil (RM12bil) plant operating well below capacity forced the maker of Aquos LCD TVs to post its worst ever annual loss last business year. But helped by recent orders won by Hon Hai, production at the plant in Sakai, western Japan, has surged, according to sources.