Hefei bids to be global center for white goods

HEFEI - The city of Hefei in East China's Anhui province plans to build itself into the world's major white goods manufacturing center within five years.

The center's total production value of white goods is expected to top 180 billion yuan ($28.29 billion), with an annual growth rate of more than 30 percent, and its annual production volume of refrigerators, washing machines and air conditioners will reach 100 million units in five years, according to Yu Gang, deputy head of the city's economy and informatization commission.

The term "white goods" refers to major home appliances, including refrigerators, washing machines and air conditioners.

Hefei has seen a rapid development of its home-appliance industry in recent years, and it is considered China's largest manufacturing base for the products.

In 2010, the city's total production value of white goods reached 69 billion yuan and it generated more than 37 million units of refrigerators, washing machines and air conditioners.