LCD TV sales unit debuts in Moscow

OSAKA (Kyodo) Sharp Corp. has set up a sales unit in Moscow to improve sales of its Aquos liquid crystal display televisions in the fast-growing Russian market, company officials said Wednesday.

The unit will sell flat-screen LCD TVs assembled at Sharp's new Polish plant that went onstream in July, they said. Products for the Russian market will include 46- and 57-inch TVs and other large models.

Previously, Sharp's German sales unit had been in charge of LCD TV sales in Russia.

With the new Russian sales unit, Sharp plans to compete better with Japanese rivals, the officials added.

On the back of the enhancement of its sales operations in Russia, Sharp is hoping to substantially increase its annual LCD TV sales in Europe from about 1.4 million units in business 2006, they said.