By Wang Lan (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-08-03 11:11

Lexmark, one of the world's largest manufacturers and suppliers of printing and imaging solutions for offices and homes, is seeking further cooperation with local companies to expand in China.

"Except for the business cooperation with Lenovo that began eight years ago, we also plan to establish partnerships with many more local companies in China in the near future," said David Chan, Lexmark's president and general manager for the Asia-Pacific region.

In 2006, Lexmark's China sales increased 189 percent while its market share grew 119 percent from the year before.

Lexmark said it plans to grab a 10 percent market share in China in the next three years and its sales in China are expected to increase by 100 percent by the end of the year.

"China is playing the most important role in Lexmark's business in the Asia-Pacific region," Chan said.

So far, with eight representative offices being built in the country and two resolution service centers in Beijing and Shanghai, Lexmark has more offices in China than in any other country in the Asia-Pacific region.

While consolidating ties with the world's leading companies in a variety of industries, including providing printing services for major banks and insurance companies and retail giants based in China, Lexmark is also hoping to cooperate with small- and medium-sized local enterprises.

"By the end of this year, we hope to expand our penetration in China to 1,000 channel partners from 200 last year," said Chen.

According to Li Jianmin, president of Lexmark China, the company's printing products and solution programs may provide an all-round service, which makes the users avoid redundant investments in printing.

"In this sense, no extra cost has been created, though Lexmark applies the most advanced technology in our products and services," Li said.