Kodak aims to expand market in China
( 2001-06-11 22:40 ) (8 )

The US-based Kodak Company plans to turn China into its largest market in the world in the coming years, Daniel Carp, Kodak's chief executive officer, said Monday in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province.

Carp was in Chengdu to attend a ceremony for the company's 150,000-U. S. dollar donation to the education foundation of the province. The company also contributed 3,000 cameras to the city of Chengdu.

The operation of Kodak in west China will contribute to the development in the region, while creating more investment and job opportunities, said Carp.

So far, more than 1,000 "Kodak Speedy Color" chain stores have been set up in west China, and the number will keep increasing, he said, adding that Kodak will introduce more management expertise and photographic technologies into China.

In its efforts to expand the China market, Kodak, one of the top 500 companies in the world, has invested 1.2 billion US dollars in setting up five factories in the Chinese cities of Xiamen, Shanghai, Wuxi and Shantou.

Kodak film now occupies the largest market share in China. A recent survey shows that Kodak has ranked first in film sales in China for the past three years.