Olympus sends production to the rice paddies of Vietnam

Hmmm. Nikon D300, made in Japan, $1700. Olympus E-3, made in China,
$1700. Wages? Japan, $24/hr. China, maybe $0.50-$1.00.


http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/

Olympus to build '$44m' camera factory

Friday 9th November 2007
Chris Cheesman

Olympus has announced plans to build a new digital camera plant in
Vietnam owing to growing global demand, according to unconfirmed press
reports.

Construction will start in the latter part of 2008, according to a
report by news agency AFP.

According to the AFP article, an Olympus spokesman denied an earlier
Japanese press report which stated that Olympus would consolidate two
of its Chinese factories into one and transfer some operations to the
base in Vietnam, 'where labour costs are lower'.

The unnamed Olympus official told AFP that the Vietnamese plant would
exist in addition to the Chinese factories.

At the time of writing we had yet to receive an official comment from
Olympus UK.

RichA wrote:
Hmmm. Nikon D300, made in Japan, $1700. Olympus E-3, made in China,
$1700. Wages? Japan, $24/hr. China, maybe $0.50-$1.00.

AFAIK the D300 will be made in Thailand.