Chinese tech firms big players at World Cup
Updated: 2014-07-12 07:03
By Lyu Chang (China Daily)
|
||||||||
The most surprising moment at the World Cup is probably not the Uruguay's Luis Suarez's biting his Italian opponent Giorgio Chiellini, but the flickering logo of a Chinese company lining the soccer field as well as a long list of Chinese-made advanced technology products making inroads into the six-week sports gala.
Starting from Yingli Solar, the first and only renewable-energy company to become an official sponsor in both South Africa and Brazil World Cups, Chinese high-tech companies are trying to make a splash in the international market.
Judy Tzeng, vice-president of global marketing at Yingli Solar, said it's sponsoring the World Cup to penetrate the uncharted South American market.
More than 1,500 Yingli Solar PV modules are in place on a metal ring encircling the top of the Estadio do Maracana in Rio de Janeiro, according to the company.
Other Chinese companies are contributing to the World Cup with deals sealed.
Nuctech Co Ltd in Beijing has signed a contact to provide security scanners in nine of the 12 World Cup stadiums, as well as at one-third of Brazil's airports.
"It is just a warm-up," said Wang Weidong, vice-president of the company, who wants to provide more products for the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.
Other companies have gone even farther in Latin America's largest country, such as Huawei Technologies and Comba Telecom Systems, which see Brazil as an old battlefield.
Chinese telecom equipment manufacturer Huawei opened its first office in Brazil in 1999, offering handsets and network interface cards to local major operators.
Huawei, the world's second-largest telecom gear maker, said it will ensure trustworthy mobile connections and data communications during the event, while Comba Telecom Systems is mainly providing wireless solutions, including 2G, 3G,4G LTE iDEN and WiFi, in eight of the 12 World Cup fields in Brazil.
Tony Fok, chairman of Comba Telecom Systems (China) Ltd, said the company will use Brazil as a springboard to further explore other markets and achieve a global brand awareness.
Some Chinese companies are still traditionally manufacturers of the official match balls, and other commodities, such as mascots and national flags. But many other companies are increasingly upgrading their innovative capability with more investment in research and development, branding, and design and marketing, key high-end activities at both ends of the production process.
"Low-cost exports cannot sustain an economy," said Zhang Weiying, an economist at Guanghua School of Management at Peking University.
lvchang@chinadaily.com.cn
(China Daily 07/12/2014 page1)
- Faye Wong's manager refutes star's drug rumors
- Lu Yi and daughter Bei Er pose for street snaps
- Photoshoots of actress Li Xiaomeng
- Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards
- Fan Bingbing, first Chinese actress in Barbie Hall of Fame
- Awarding ceremony of 2014 hito Pop Music held in Taipei
- Zhao Liying's photo shoot for Children's Day
- 'Taken 2' grabs movie box office crown
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
China helps fight international war on drugs |
Crackdown on terrorist attacks |
My China Story: Meeting the master |
Tongues tied around tatu-bola |
A market that's not such a hot property |
Tough regime cranks out test winners |
Today's Top News
China promotes 4 officers to general
Bus carrying Chinese tourists crashes in US
LeBron James back to Cleveland
China, US pledge partnership
RMB use is on the rise in US
Chinese see NYC real estate as a sound place
Australia is top destination for wealthy Chinese
Berlin expels US spy official
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |