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<DIV><FONT size=2> I saw this today and found it
interesting and would like to share it with you all.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT size=2>Jack Houweling</FONT></DIV>
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<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><B><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT size=4><A
name=First_made-in-Vietnam_piano_released__>First made-in-Vietnam piano released
</A></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><SPAN lang=EN-GB>The first Apollo brand piano
manufactured by Japan-invested Toyo-APT Piano Vietnam Ltd. Co. in Ho Chi Minh
City has been released.</SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><SPAN lang=EN-GB>An Apollo piano made in Vietnam
will be sold at US $3,400 as compared to US $3,900 for a similar one imported
from Japan, said Seiichi Anzai, Deputy Director of the company.</SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><SPAN lang=EN-GB>The Toyo-APT company, which is one
of the leading piano manufacturers in Japan, built its factory at the Tan Binh
Industrial Zone of Ho Chi Minh City in 2005, with a primary focus on repairing
old pianos.</SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><SPAN lang=EN-GB>This year, the company has focused
on training technicians and making new pianos. With three Japanese engineers and
nearly 30 Vietnamese technicians, it expects to make 100 pianos by the end of
the year.</SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><SPAN lang=EN-GB>Seiichi Anzai said Vietnam had a
lot of skillful technicians for piano maintenance but that the supply was not
sufficient. He stressed the need for a factory and facilities to produce
standard pianos with the hallmarks of craftsmanship, rather than mass-produced
ones.</SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><SPAN lang=EN-GB>He appreciated the demand for
pianos and potentials of maintenance services in Vietnam and in Ho Chi Minh City
as the locals' living conditions have improved. </SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><SPAN lang=EN-GB>The building of such a factory and
the training of skillful technicians will pave the way for a new industry - the
piano industry - in Vietnam, he said. (VNA)</SPAN></P>
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