Friday, 10 October 2008

HP Strengthens Presence in China with New PC Manufacturing Plant

Computer giant Hewlett Packard (HP) Friday revealed plans of operating a 20,000 square-meter facility out of China’s Chongqing Municipality to serve a fast-growing Chinese market and accelerate economic development in West China.

According to the agreement, HP will make “state-of-the-art” notebook and desktop PCs for customers in China, where it leads as a foreign manufacturer of PCs.

Manufacturing operations are expected to begin in 2010.

When in full operation, the HP-managed plant is expected to have the capacity to meet market demand in Chongqing as well as other parts of China across government, public and retail sectors.

“Our vision of transforming Chongqing into China’s West IT center requires strong participation from the world’s most innovative and respected companies,” said Wang Hongju, mayor, Chongqing Municipality.

“We welcome and support the HP venture, which will accelerate the development and bring new economic opportunity to an area previously untapped.”

Chongqing is one of the fastest growing cities in China. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, in 2007, its GDP was billion (RMB) with a growth rate of 15.6 percent over the prior year. The city has 500,000 university students and more than 1,000 research and development institutions. In addition to the educated work force, development conditions offered by the local government made the development attractive to HP.

“As the world’s leading PC maker, the world’s largest component buyer and a contributor to the Chinese economy since 1981, HP is proud to announce plans to expand our commitment to the Chinese marketplace,” said Todd Bradley, executive vice president, Personal Systems Group, HP.

“We look forward to expanding opportunities for local talent in the heart of China to help us better serve the Chinese market for computing products and services. We thank the Chinese government for this opportunity to forge a closer partnership between Chongqing and HP."