The Weekly News Update is a weekly roundup of business news from around the Asia-Pacific region, covering Fusion Consulting's core industry practices: chemicals, consumer & retail, financial services, industrial & logistics, information & communication technology, life science and media & leisure. If you have colleagues or friends who may be interested in subscribing, please forward this email to them and copy knowledge@fusionc.com.     Click here to request our free whitepaper on the Development of Telematics in  Asia and its impact on the automotive industry and other sectors including telecom,  media and logistics. Information & communication technology

Japan - Toshiba, SanDisk plan chip investment Source: Kyodo News, 19 February 2008 Toshiba and SanDisk, its US semiconductor production partner, plan to coinvest some Y1.8 trillion (US$16.6 billion) to boost semiconductor production. The two are expected to build a new NAND flash memory factory in Kitakami, Iwate Prefecture, and an extra facility within Toshiba's existing factory in Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture. Toshiba has four factories for flash memory products, all in Yokkaichi. The decision is seen as an attempt to catch up with industry leader Samsung Electronics of Korea in the global NAND flash memory market. Toshiba is the second-largest NAND flash memory maker. Singapore - Chartered buys Hitachi Semicon for US$233 million Source: Business Times Singapore, 16 February 2008 Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing has agreed to buy 100% of Hitachi Semiconductor Singapore (HNS) from Hitachi Ltd. and Hitachi Asia for US$233 million. HNS owns and operates an eight-inch wafer fabrication facility in Singapore, which will add to the capacity of four eight-inch fabs that Chartered currently operates. The acquisition is scheduled to be completed at the end of the first quarter of 2008. State-controlled Chartered Semiconductor ranks alongside China's Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation in the market for custom-built microchips, which is dominated by larger rivals Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. and United Microelectronics Corporation. Thailand - IT market to grow 13.4% in 2008 Source: Thai News Service, 15 February 2008 Kasikorn Research Center forecasts that in 2008 the information technology (IT) industry in Thailand may record growth almost on par with 2007. Market turnover of the industry is expected to total some Bt168.8 billion (US$5.3 billion) - up 13.4% - slightly over the growth of 13.2% in 2007. The main thrust of growth would come from investments in IT initiated by the government and the private sector. This would include Bt79.2 billion (US$2.5 billion) in hardware products - growing around 10%; plus Bt72.7 billion (US$2.3 billion) going to software products - increasing 17%; and computer services valued at Bt16.9 billion (US$533 million) - growing around 15%.   View an example of our experience in this industry. Back to list of articles.  Visit our website to sign up for free intelligence on Asian markets.

This Weekly News Update is a free newsletter, providing a round-up of the week's Asia-Pacific news from our core industry practices. If you have colleagues or friends who may be interested in subscribing, please forward this email to them and copy knowledge@fusionc.com.

Fusion Consulting is a business intelligence consultancy providing clear strategic advice on Asia-Pacific markets. With offices in Shanghai, Singapore and Hong Kong and 400 industry consultants in 16 countries, we conduct custom research and consulting to help companies understand their markets, compete more effectively and grow into new areas of opportunity. Email more@fusionc.com or visit www.fusionc.com for more information.