Chinese solar firms defy growing Mideast competition

DUBAI -- Producers of solar technology from China said here Monday that while growing competition in the region has weighed on profit margins, they continue to secure market shares across the Middle East.

At the three-day annual Intersolar Middle East exhibition opening Monday, dozens of companies from China showcase their latest innovations like solar panels or solar power transmitting technology.

Anne Zheng, sales manager from Zhejiang Longchi Technology, said "in 2015, a price war in the region started and we are exhibiting for the first time at the Intersolar Middle East in order to reach out to new clients."

Jimmy Wang, vice general manager with Cixi City Rixing Electronics, confirmed that pressure on sales prices increased.

However, he added "we managed in recent years to spread our wings across the Middle East as we found new clients even in remote markets like Syria, Afghanistan or Yemen. Dubai is the perfect distribution hub for the region and we also reach out to Africa and India from here."