Fairchild opens two offices in China.
By EBN staff
Electronic Buyers' News
(12/16/99, 04:32:26 PM EDT)
Fairchild Semiconductor International has opened two
sales and technical support offices in China in a move to
draw closer to the sleeping market giant.
Fairchild, South Portland, Maine, said the offices in
Shanghai and Shenzhen are part of a two-phase plan to
spur its growth as a multi-market semiconductor supplier.
"The foundation of the phase-two growth strategy is
simple," said Kirk Pond, Fairchild's president and chief
executive in a statement. "A combination of internal growth
through the development of new products and strategic
acquisitions will see us take a leading position in our
selected markets."
Those markets include wireless telecommunications,
computer and computer peripherals, consumer, industrial,
and automotive. In China, the company focuses on the
telecommunications, personal computers, industrial,
consumer, and appliance sectors.
Fairchild called the new offices a "milestone" in its
expansion plan and said they will help the company
increase the $150 million business it has already
established in China. Moreover, the company said China's
recent acceptance into the Word Trade Organization could
accelerate market expansion, opening even greater
opportunity for Fairchild.
"We're planning to assist our customers in China through
this period by aggressively extending our technology and
applications support," said Eric Kuo, the company's vice
president and managing director of Asia Pacific sales and
marketing.
Fairchild said that in particular the power-IC portfolio it
amassed through its acquisition earlier this year of
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.'s Power Device Group will
help it lock into a range of emerging applications.
"Power is at the heart of today's modern electronics
systems," Kuo said. "In China, power is a very valuable
resource. Increasing demand for consumer electronics and
home appliances such as air conditioners and refrigerators
means that more power has to be generated."
The company also pointed to the telecom sector and
China's need for a comprehensive communications
infrastructure as guiding its market strategy.
"Asia already represents 63% of Fairchild's sales
worldwide, and is the company's fastest growing region,"
Kuo said. "I'm convinced that with these new offices and
our increased focus on customer service, China will make
a significant contribution to Fairchild's business
worldwide."
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