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China, DuPont's first choice
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Han Ximin
CHARLES BROWNE, president of DuPont China Holding Co, said China has become the most important market on earth for his firm and its first choice for investment and expansion.
The sales volume of DuPont China reached US$1.6 billion for the year 2000, an increase of 36 per cent over 1999, far exceeding the company's target growth rate of 20 per cent. The firm's growth rate in the region hit 20 per cent, and five per cent globally compared with the year 1999.
At an interview yesterday, Browne said that the company's China operation has been doing extremely well in recent years.
Among the firm's moves in 2000, it became the sole owner of the venture Electronic Materials DuPont Dongguan, and started up a new US$25 million production line in Shanghai plant that manufactures spandex fibres.
This year, DuPont plans to invest in food, agriculture and IT projects.
DuPont's Shenzhen plant, the firm's first wholly-owned entity in China, has been recognized by Shenzhen Customs as a "Credible Enterprise" five times. It will be an important manufacturer for DuPont's high-tech products, according to Charles Browne.
"China's entry into the WTO in the near future will bring new opportunities to DuPont," said Charles Browne. "For example, the demand in China's garments industry for the company's fibre products will increase. To prepare for China's entry, DuPont China has started to integrate its business into a global logistic system to better leverage the worldwide supply of raw materials."
Though optimistic and satisfied with the investment environment in Shenzhen and China, which has been greatly improved in the past few years, Browne suggests that two aspects should be improved. "Government should increase its transparency to public and be tougher on counterfeit products for they have greatly infringed not only the interest of multinationals in China but also local enterprises. "
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