Haier to Establish Export Base in Northeast China

Haier, China's leading electric appliances manufacturer, has started building an export base in this scenic coastal city in northeast China's Liaoning Province.

Located in an export-oriented industrial zone, the base will cover a total area of 250,000 square meters, with an initial investment of 600 million yuan (about US$72 million).

The base is designed to produce on million air-conditioners and 550,000 refrigerators a year, all of which will be exported, sources said.

The base is expected to be partly operational this December, and the annual output value will reach 4.8 billion yuan when it comes into full operation.

As it will rely heavily on auxiliary enterprises that provide parts, transportation and other services, the export base will greatly accelerate the growth of the local economy, officials said.

Taking Qingdao Refrigerator Plant as the predecessor that was established 16 years ago, Haier Group now have exported its products to more than 160 countries and regions. Its sales volume rose from 3.48 million yuan in 1984 to 40.6 billion in 2000; the 2000 pre-tax profit reached 3 billion yuan and tax payment had amounted to 5.2 billion yuan since 1995; The number of employees increased from 800 in 1984 to 30,000 in 2000; the 2000 brand value was 30 billion yuan; products have been sold in over 160 countries and regions and more than 38,000 sales outlets have been established across the world;

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