ABB to boost activities in China

Chief executive Fred Kindle of the Swiss-Swedish engineering giant ABB said on Tuesday his company will relocate its robotics division from the United States to China, and boosting its activities in China is part of ABB's five- year strategy.

"China rightfully has a very strong position because it is a huge market with a lot of opportunities. Therefore, it is attracting a lot of our attention," Kindle said in an interview with the official website swissinfo.

As to ABB's decision to relocate its robotics division and its workforce to China, Kindle said: "We must stay at the cutting edge where we are not facing cost competition that forces us to relocate more of our workforce."

"Our success in emerging countries may lead to a build-up of jobs in OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries in the future," he added.

In October 2004, the Zurich-based engineering group unveiled major expansion plans in China, which it said should become its largest market within five years.

Besides China, Kindle said ABB has also seen a stellar performance in its development in India and there is very dynamic development in the Middle East.

Source: Xinhua