TCL, one of biggest electronic firms in China, will expand its operation in Vietnam to serve increasing local and foreign demand for its products, including TVs, computers and mobile phones, an official of TCL Vietnam told Xinhua Tuesday.

"Next year, we plan to expand our factory in southern Dong Nai province to 10 hectares from current 3 hectares, and build facilities in Vietnam's northern and central regions," said Deng Weiwen, Director General of TCL Vietnam.

To serve local people who have higher living standards, the company will focus on producing wide-screen TV sets with modern functions and fashionable styles, he said, adding that it will also launch new models of fridges, washing machines, computers and mobile phones into the Vietnamese market.

TCL Vietnam with branches in Hanoi capital city, southern Ho Chi Minh City and central Da Nang City, which has so far this year sold around 200,000 TV sets in the domestic market, is estimated to sell some 600,000 ones both in Vietnam and abroad this year, double from last year, he noted, adding that TCL TVs have become the second best seller, after Samsung products in the Vietnamese market.

Electronic products branded TCL have become familiar with many Vietnamese consumers after being launched into the market in 1999.TCL Vietnam now holds a market share of 18-20 percent for electronic products, Deng said.

"Our achievements in Vietnam are the base for TCL to expand markets in other regional countries," he said.

TCL has opened several hundreds of representative offices and factories all over the world, including France, Mexico, India, Thailand, Myanmar and Malaysia.

TCL's success in Vietnam is attributed mainly to reasonable prices, and suitable business strategies, especially those on marketing and sales. "We have appealed to rural people and low income earners," Deng noted.

As of Aug. 20, Vietnam had housed 346 operational Chinese-invested projects with registered capital of 710.5 million US dollars. In the first 8 months of this year, the country attracted nearly 60 million dollars from 29 Chinese-invested projects.

Source: Xinhua