Chinese firms put out their wares at tech fair

Midea, Haier, Jialing, Kinlong... these are just some of the Chinese brands on display at the International Engineering and Technology Fair 2003 that may soon become household names in India.

China is the partner country for the four-day IETF 2003 being organised by Confederation of Indian Industry.

It's no surprise then that the China pavilion turned out to be a big draw for business visitors at the opening day of the IETF 2003. From Chinese herbs to motorbikes to sewing machines to airconditioners -- the pavilion had all this and more.

More than 70 Chinese companies are participating at the fair ranging from white goods company Midea to motorbike manufacturer Kinlong from telecom equipment company Zte to silk manufacturer Anhui.

Haier Group, which has a 30 per cent market share for refrigerators, freezers, air-conditioners and washing machines in China, is on the look out for partners in India. The company intends to sell at least 10,000 units in India this year.

At the fair, the company has on display its entire home appliances range -- refrigerators, colour televisions, washing machines and so on. The company's television sets range from $ 250-600 and the price of its airconditioners is $100-200.

And of course, there is the Midea Group of China, which is also looking at forging alliances with leading Indian companies and has already entered into partnership with Bajaj, Usha and Polar.

"India is a very important market for us and we have outlined major expansion plans here. We want to launch many of our products including microwave ovens and water dispensers in India," Linda Xia, brand manager, Midea told Business Standard.

China Jialing Industrial Company which exports motorcycles under the brand name Jialing is also identifying partners. The company has on display its four-stroke canary yellow coloured bike priced at $500.

"We are facing many problems in entering the Indian market as the customs duties are too high," a company official said. Also on display are Kinlong bikes from Chongqing Kinlong Motorcyle Manufacture Co.

Then there are several pharmaceutical and Chinese herb companies including Guangxi Medicines and Health Products Import and Export Corporation and Jiangsu Provincial Foreign Trade Corporation.

At least a dozen machine tools and precision instrucment manufacturers participating at the fair who were on the look out for Indian partners.