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GE started its business in China as early as 1906. After the Chinese market opened to the outside world, it returned to China in 1979. But until its CEO Jack Welch visited China in 1992, GE really began to China. As a key city, so far, GE's infrastructure, industry, medical, business finance, consumer finance, NBC Universal and other six industrial sectors have all entered China, with a total investment of more than 1.5 billion US dollars in China. In 2006, GE's sales revenue in China reached US$5.4 billion.
Darryl Wilson, President and CEO of GE Consumer & Industrial Products Group, was interviewed. In GE, which is known worldwide for leadership talent development, Dai Weisheng’s leadership has been recognized by the headquarters. Dai Weisheng pointed out that GE's business scope covers consumer and industrial products, GEFanuc automation, inspection technology, plastics, security, sensing and measurement, and high-tech materials. In 2006, global sales revenue was $33.5 billion. Among them, the Consumer and Industrial Products Group is dedicated to power distribution and control, high-end home appliances and a variety of lighting products and lighting control systems. In 2005, global sales exceeded $14 billion, with 75,000 employees in 150 countries and regions. The department he is in charge is very important to GE's global layout, and we can use him to learn more about GE's huge multinational company.
Developing products for western China
Winning Weekly: Pang Deming, Chairman and CEO of GE Northeast Asia, revealed in an interview with Fortune (Chinese version) that the first thing after his appointment was to study how China's 11th Five-Year Plan can be combined with GE's strategy. Get up, so GE will focus on the western part of China in the future, such as Wuhan and Chongqing. Please tell us about the implementation of GE Consumer & Industrial Products Group in this regard.
Dai Weisheng: First, increase personnel input, including sales staff and office construction in the west. Second, in terms of new product development, what is needed in the West, and what we will develop. GE (China) has any plans, we will have corresponding plans and strategies to cooperate. As for the "Eleventh Five-Year Plan", we have more things to do.
Win Weekly: What do you think about the potential of the Chinese market?
Dai Weisheng: China is a very important market in the Asia Pacific region, occupying the most important share. We will fully consider the allocation of resources as a key market to increase investment in China, including personnel and product development. In different industries, we will accelerate development according to industry guidance policies, including tunnels, Beijing Olympics, Guangzhou Asian Games, Shanghai World Expo, Hong Kong and so on.
Win Weekly: How is GE's sales in the Chinese market?
Dai Weisheng: Regarding the sales situation in China, the indicator we generally emphasize is the speed of development. Our growth rate in China in 2006 was double-digit and has been growing for several years. We believe that the Chinese market will continue to grow rapidly.
Win Weekly: Can you specifically disclose the market share of GE Industries in China?
Dai Weisheng: This ratio is about 30%.
Win Weekly: The Beijing Olympic Games will create huge business opportunities. Only the demand for lighting products brought by the Olympic stadiums will have an order of about 500 million yuan. How will GE grasp this opportunity? What sales target will be achieved?
Dai Weisheng: To discuss this issue, we must first understand the GE culture, that is, we must have a goal in doing things. Regarding the business opportunities of the Beijing Olympics, the industries involved include security, lighting, industrial systems, etc. Each industry has different goals. We are working towards achieving a sales target of $700 million to $800 million. It is difficult to answer specific figures for this question. As long as Chinese customers have demand, we will bring the products and technologies that customers need to China. We are always committed to bringing the most advanced technologies and products to China. We will continue to develop business opportunities in the Olympics, as well as business opportunities in the Guangzhou Asian Games, Shanghai World Expo, and Hong Kong.
Provide a total solution
Win Weekly: GE Lighting is one of the important departments under your jurisdiction. What do you think of this area?
Dai Weisheng: Lighting accounts for one-third of GE's sales. Lighting is a very important part of GE and hopes to have more development opportunities in China. Lighting represents a product inherited from GE's product innovation, starting with Edison's invention of the world's first light bulb. We will continue to invest and develop in China. I believe everyone can see this. GE's personnel in the lighting field will continue to increase in the next few years, and we will increase our efforts in new product promotion and R&D.
Win Weekly: You have come to participate in the "2007 Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition", what new experience?
Dai Weisheng: This year's exhibition is even bigger. I have seen many old friends this year and I hope to see you next year. At the GE booth this year, our way of exhibiting changed. In the past, our booth was based on product lines, and now it is based on overall solutions. In addition to the “Espresso†showroom, GE is focusing more on customer needs this year, providing a total solution by industry. The future development trend is to integrate industrial systems with a total solution.
Win Weekly: Please describe your current work focus.
Dai Weisheng: GE has been committed to the research and development of energy-saving technologies and products. Energy conservation is an eternal topic. Energy conservation and environmental protection are important. Of course, other aspects are also important. We will pay attention to customer needs and launch a total solution to help customers solve problems.
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