A joint Israeli and Chinese team is building a huge Sino-Israeli International Water Industrial Park in southern China, a representative from the team told The Jerusalem Post at the WATEC water technologies exhibition in Tel Aviv on Wednesday.
“Israeli companies have the most advanced technologies in the world and the purpose is to invite Israeli water companies into China and to explore the market in China,” said Victor Zhao, Chinese-based director of Ness Ziona firm Shirat Enterprises.
The industrial park, which will be jointly managed by Shirat and Chinese company Dowell, will encompass about 400,000 square meters worth of research and exhibition facilities in the manufacturing city of Dangguan, located in China’s Guangdong Province. The binational team has already recruited 10 small Israeli water technology firms of various backgrounds to conduct research and development at the future facility, according to Zhao.
While the Israeli companies will bring in their technology and expertise, the Chinese portion of the team will be providing the necessary “platform” to connect with the Chinese government and customers, he continued. During a recent survey conducted by his company with more than 20 relevant Israeli organizations, Zhao said his firm found that they would all want to expand their technologies to the Chinese market if possible.
“China is facing very problematic issues with water shortages and pollution and Israel on the other side has great technologies but not a great market,” Zhao said. “It’s mutually beneficial.”
China was the most highly represented country at this year’s WATEC convention, featuring 24 groups with more than 200 people representing over 130 firms, research institutes and government offices, according to the Industry, Trade and Labor Ministry. The increased presence of Chinese participants coincides with an increase in trade with the Asian partner, which amounted to $6.8 billion in 2010, a jump of 49 percent from the previous year, the ministry said.
http://www.jpost.com/Sci-Tech/Article.aspx?id=245879
