BenQ to Close Operations in Southern Cone

Taiwanese mobile handset manufacturer BenQ has decided to close its operations in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, Argentine newspaper El Cronista reported.

According to the newspaper, BenQ could also close its Chilean subsidiary as a consequence of a crisis the company is experiencing in its global operations.

BenQ started operations in Argentina five months ago through the acquisition of the mobile telephony unit of Germany's Siemens.

The Argentine subsidiary, in charge of operations in Uruguay and Paraguay, will remain open until November.

The company announced in early September plans to boost investment at its Manaus plant in northern Brazil to 10mn reais (US$4.6mn) this year.

BNAmericas.com"

Posted to the site on 16th October 2006