GLOBAL ELECTRONICS LEADER TO OPEN R&D CENTER IN SUWANEE, GWINNETT COUNTY GEORGIA, USA

 

Hisense Corporation USA announces second local expansion in less than a year

Qingdao, China - In partnership with Gwinnett Chamber Economic Development, the City of Suwanee and Gwinnett County, Chinese electronics maker Hisense Company Ltd. recently announced that the company will establish a 7,000 square foot research and development center at its North American headquarters in the Suwanee [Gwinnett County, Georgia, USA].  The expansion marks the second Hisense expansion in Gwinnett in less than a year. 

“We’ve long known that Gwinnett County is a great place to do business, and now with this strategically placed R&D center, we’ll be even better poised to serve our customers in North and South American markets,” said Dr. Lin Lan, vice president of Hisense.

The announcement was made at the company’s rooftop global headquarters here amid a dinner hosted by Hisense Company Limited. Gwinnett County, the Gwinnett Chamber and members of the 2010 Gwinnett Global business mission to China were among the honored guests of this exclusive event. Also in attendance were over 100 electronics leaders and investors and the US Department of Commerce all attending the SINO CES conference.

Gwinnett County Commission Chairman Charles Bannister commented, “Hisense continues to be a key partner in Gwinnett’s efforts to improve the local economic climate.  Now, other companies will look to their vision when making North and South American location decisions.”

In 2009, Hisense broke the news that it would expand its Suwanee-based Gwinnett operation with $800K in capital investment and 20 new high-wage over the next few years.

Suwanee Mayor Dave Williams said, “We are proud that Hisense likes what they have in Suwanee and continues to expand. There is no bigger compliment than a company continuing to invest in a local community.”


As the news of the center was breaking, Gwinnett representatives from both the public and private spheres on a 10-day business mission were present in Qingdao to hear it. The 20-member delegation just completed its tour with stops in seven cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Qingdao, Wuxi, Hong Kong, Macau and Incheon (South Korea).  The visits featured meetings with local business people and government economic development officials.

“For the past year and a half we’ve been laying the groundwork and making the connections required to begin taking delegations to China,” said Nick Masino, vice president of economic development and Partnership Gwinnett at the Gwinnett Chamber.  “The work is now paying off with this mission and those that will come in the future.  Our delegates are making the contacts that will grow into business relationships.”


The 20 delegates representing Gwinnett County, Georgia, USA on the 2010 mission include Charles Bannister, Chairman, Gwinnett County Government, James Maran, President & CEO, Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, Nick  Masino, Vice President, Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, Jay Eun, Chairman, Korean Association of Greater Atlanta (Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce Executive Board Member – Global Business), Bill Russell, CEO, Russell Landscape Group , Randy Dellinger, Regional District Manager, Jackson EMC, Chuck Warbington, Executive Director, Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District, Dave McMullen, President and Owner, redpepper marketing agency, Gene Hanratty, Representative of the Hong Kong Economic & Trade office in Washington DC, Ron McKay, Vice President, Ariete International, Steven Cohen, Americas Marketing Director, Hisense, USA, Tim Hur, CEO, International Business Accelerator (IBA), Lisa Sherman, marketing & public relations director, Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, John Lin, President, Best Friend Tour Service; General Manager, Wuxi Office, Gwinnett Global Business Council, Monty Chiu, Managing Attorney, Monty Chiu & Associates, PC, Legal Counsel,  Gwinnett Global Business Council, Sheng Kai Gong, Gong Enterprises, CEO, William Wu, Gong Enterprises, CIO, Adam Hwang, Gong Enterprises, and Lu Hsieh, Gong Enterprises, Executive Assistant.

Hisense Company Ltd. is the largest flat panel screen manufacturer and distributor in China. Founded 30 years ago as a small workshop enterprise, Hisense Group has since developed into an integrated business with commercial interests in the appliance and electronics industries. Hisense has over 60,000 global employees and over $8 billion in global sales in 2009.

For more information on this release or on the Gwinnett delegation’s mission to Asia, visit www.gwinnetteconomicdevelopment.com. For further information on Hisense or to contact Hisense Corporation USA, visit their website at www.hisense-usa.com. ###

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