Samsung Roars in Vegas 
LAS VEGAS _ Samsung Electronics has made a bold and outright commitment to become the world’s leading digital appliance company with a plan to double both its LCD and PDP TV sales.
The sales target for TVs this year is set at 24 million units, up from 20 million units last year, Choi Gee-sung, chief of its Digital Media division, said at the Consumer Electronics Show on Monday. Both figures would be industry records.
``Last year, we were No. 1 in the TV market for the first time after being in the business for 34 years. So this year, we are going to expand the gap with second-tier makers, to be true to the name of the top brand.’’ he said in a meeting with South Korean reporters at the Bali Hai Resort club on Sunday.
Lee Jae-yong, vice president and the heir apparent of group chairman Lee Kun-hee, made a rare public appearance during the meeting and gave a short celebratory speech.
Choi, in a party mood, said that his division, including TVs, PCs, video players, MP3 players and printers _ had 20 trillion won in sales with a record-high 800 billion won operating profit last year. In 2007, he is hoping for 1 trillion won in profits.
To meet the goal, Samsung plans to pump up the sales of LCD TVs _ its main item _ to 11 million units from 6.2 million last year, with a new brand named ``Nouveau Bordeaux,’’ which is on display at the ongoing Consumer Electronics Show.
# The Korea Times [January 9, 2007]By Cho Jin-seo
Staff Reporter
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