(AFP) Japan's electronics giant Sony Corp unveiled an aggressive marketing campaign today to promote high-tech digital products to boost sales in Malaysia amid economic gloom.

Sales this year would remain at last year's level of around RM600 million ringgit but are forecast to improve next year, said Sony (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd managing director Kazuo Suyama.

Sales of audio-video products had declined but growth would emanate from the digital camera and camcorder category which was fast gaining popularity, he said.

"I expect (turnover to be) slightly better (in 2002) than this year because of the launch of our new products especially the digital imaging products," Suyama told AFP .

Profits 'slightly lower'

"We are confident of achieving a 30 percent sales growth in the digital imaging product category which is one of the fastest growing categories."

Suyama said this year's profits were forecast to be "slightly lower" than last year but would still remain strong.

He said the company was "very happy" with the stable Malaysian ringgit peg, which was fixed at 3.80 to the dollar since 1998.

Sony (Malaysia) marketing general manager Haruhito Tanigawa told a press conference earlier that Sony had no plans to downsize its workforce of some 15,000 people.

Sony has two plants in Malaysia, one in northern Penang state producing audio video (AV) products and the other in central Selangor state manufacturing television sets, mainly for export markets.

Promotions

A company official told AFP production at the two plants was seasonal but likely to be maintained at last year's level of around RM11 billion in total value.

Tanigawa said Malaysia's audio industry has slumped by around 20 percent this year.

Sony has embarked on a three-million-ringgit promotional trail, including a television programme and roadshows, to boost sales.

Suyama said a 'Sony carnival' would be launched on Thursday offering promotional gifts and giveaways to spur consumer spending and domestic market growth.

A weekly television would also be launched Nov 25 to promote the digital lifestyle and introduce Sony's network-related products.

Suyama said Sony would introduce more futuristic products with a "cross category concept" such as a digital video disc (DVD) player incorporating features from a home theatre system and a compact disc audio player.

It planned to aggressively promote the flat-screen Wega television and penetrate the entertainment business by launching the new PlayStation 2 here next month.