News Headline
Hitachi, Toshiba and Matsushita to form JV
MUMBAI: Hitachi, Ltd., Toshiba Corporation and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. have reached a basic agreement to jointly establish a company to manufacture and sell LCD panels for flat-panel TVs. Plans call for the joint venture to commence operations in January 2005.
The JV will build an amorphous TFT LCD panel production line at the Mobara facility of Hitachi Displays, Ltd. (“Hitachi Displays”), Hitachi’s wholly owned subsidiary. Scheduled to begin mass production in the second quarter of the year ending 31 March, 2007, the joint venture (JV) will expand production capacity in stages, ultimately reaching the equivalent of 2.5 million 32-inch TV LCD panels a year by the second half of fiscal 2008.
The expected capital investment for establishing this facility is 110.0 billion yen. While Hitachi Displays, Toshiba and Matsushita own majority shares, the JV plans to solicit investments from other companies involved in the manufacture of LCD panels, including device makers and material suppliers, informed an official release.
Hitachi, Toshiba and Matsushita have decided to establish the JV against the backdrop of growing sales for flat-panel TVs, which combine a high-quality picture and large screen with a space-saving profile. The JV will provide the three companies with a reliable supply of LCD panels that are ideal for TVs and that will bolster the competitiveness of their respective LCD TV businesses in the high-end market. Close collaboration with the JV is expected to achieve synergies in Hitachi, Toshiba and Matsushita’s respective production of finished products, allowing them to achieve LCD TVs that are even more competitive in terms of performance and price, added the release.
Outline of the JV:
Company name: To be announced
Management: To be announced
Projected capital: 60-70 billion yen
Ownership: Hitachi Displays 30-35 billion yen (50 per cent); Toshiba 15 billion yen (21-25 per cent); Matsushita 15 billion yen (21-25 per cent); other companies 0-5 billion yen (0-8 per cent projected)
Location: Mobara, Chiba Prefecture, Japan
Business: Manufacture, design, sales and related maintenance and services of amorphous TFT LCD panels
Capital investment: Approx. 110 billion yen
Products: Amorphous TFT LCD panels for TVs 23-inches and above
Production capacity: Equivalent of 2.5 million 32-inch units per year (Maximum output scheduled to be realized in second half of fiscal 2008)
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
