Motorola donates 11.8 million yuan for China's anti-SARS efforts
( 2003-05-17 14:31 ) (8)

Mike Zafirovski, president and chief operating officer of Motorola, Saturday donates 11.8 million yuan (US$1.43 million) in telecommunications equipment and cash to China, to support its nation-wide fight against severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

Zafirovski chose the World Telecommunication Day to visit China, and is the first head of a big-name multinational company arriving in Beijing since the outbreak of SARS.

During his one-day stay, Zafirovski will sign a cooperation memorandum on launching a research and development (R&D) branch in Beijing, with an investment of 90 million US dollars.

Motorola's R&D investment in China is expected to top 500 million US dollars in the coming five years.

Zafirovski said Motorola sticks to its win-win strategy in China and will increase cooperation with its Chinese clients in risk management telecommunication system.

"I am delighted to see that all of our working staff are quite safe here," said Zafirovski when commenting the effective anti- SARS measures of the Chinese government.

He expressed his belief that the Chinese government will reduce the SARS' impact to the minimum in a short time, emphasizing that his confidence was based on long-term and close cooperation between Motorola and the Chinese government and companies.

Zafirovski also hoped his visit may encourage more multinationals to continue investing in China, and enlighten a positive view of the Chinese economy.

The Motorola donation will be used in the anti-SARS campaign in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and Guangdong.

China is one of the most important markets and production and R& D centers of Motorola. In 2002, Motorola (China) Electronic Co., Ltd. reported sales up to US$5.7 billion.

According to companies sources, the total investment, purchasing value and sales of Motorola in China will all reach 10 billion US dollars in three years.