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Carrier seeks increased presence in China

By Zhan Lisheng (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-07-10 10:50

Having occupied a leadership position in China's commercial refrigeration system market, Carrier Corp, a global leader in heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration systems, is aiming to become more involved in China's residential, light commercial refrigeration sector.

Most recently it entered into an agreement with Guangdong Midea Electric Appliances Co Ltd, a home appliance giant in China, to set up a joint venture in manufacturing residential and light commercial duct-free air-conditioning systems.

The joint venture, which involves 200 million yuan ($29.16 million) in registered capital, will become operational by the end of the year. The facility is expected to yield 1.4 million "Carrier" brand air conditioners annually at the initial stage and 2 million in a couple of years.

The joint venture also marks a further step for Carrier in tapping into the residential air conditioner bonanza with Midea in China in the wake of the joint venture set up four years ago between Midea and the Toshiba Carrier Corp.

"Carrier will bring a well recognized brand name and an unsurpassed global distribution network to the joint venture and the new investment demonstrates our ongoing commitment to China and its heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration markets," said Geraud Darnis, president of Carrier Corp, in an exclusive interview with China Daily.

"The joint venture project has laid a foundation for our further potential alliances with Midea and we have talked about a number of fields for further cooperation," he said.

He did not specify the possible fields for cooperation but mentioned that Carrier's future cooperations with Midea will cover both those in China and outside China.

"We're ready to expand investment in the joint venture whenever necessary."