by David A. Williams
COPENHAGEN, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Mads Nipper, president and CEO of Denmark's Grundfos Group, one of world's leading pump manufacturer, has voiced his confidence about the increasingly open and innovative Chinese market.
Since it entered the Chinese market in 1994, Grundfos has made great achievements by working with China in projects such as the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai and Beijing's brand new Daxing International Airport, the CEO told Xinhua.
He also highlighted the company's recent participation in environmental innovation in Fuzhou, the provincial capital of east China's Fujian Province, especially the elements that contribute to fighting climate change.
"We have been helping with innovative solutions to transform the river system through something we call 'pump gate,' a pump that enables a flow which helps do away with black water (human waste), it reduces the odor and pollution problem, while at the same time acting as a key contributor to flooding control and thereby adapting the city to climate change," Nipper said.
Grundfos delivered the intelligent pump gate system in April last year, the first such system in China, which has supported urban construction and water management in the city.
The CEO also acknowledged that the Chinese government has supported his company in such innovation project application and further investment, and also on the protection of intellectual property rights.
Grundfos has recently won several trademark cases in the intellectual property court in Beijing, which Nipper considered as significant.
"This sends a very strong signal from the Chinese government about the respect of intellectual property rights and creates a greater willingness and encouragement on our part to continue to invest and innovate in the Chinese market," he said.
Established in 1945, Grundfos produces more than 16 million pump units annually and employs some 19,000 employees worldwide.
As a 75-year-old Danish family-owned business, the CEO said, Grundfos has always had a long-term perspective for itself and also for the Chinese market.
Despite a slowdown of the world economy, Nipper expressed confidence for the Chinese market.
"China is a deeply strategic, priority market for us, and any slowdown will not change that perspective. China will remain a top priority market and will remain a market where we will engage with society and our Chinese partners to drive both businesses forward," said Nipper, adding that Grundfos also wants to make positive contributions to the Chinese society.
"We want to strengthen our contribution and obviously strengthen our long-term position in China," he said.
