Company Visited by Representatives of Japanese Press

On May 31st, a group of journalists representing Japan’s Kyodo News, NIKKEI, Asahi Shimbun, and Sankei News visited Sany’s Changsha industrial park. For their reception, a press conference was organized, with President Xiang Wenbo of Sany Group briefing the journalists about the company and answering questions. Apparently the visit by such a high profile mix of the Japanese media was due to Sany’s donation of one unit of key equipment to Japan during the recent nuclear leakage crisis. It was expected that the visit by the Japanese press would make the Japanese society more aware of this Chinese heavy machinery company.

At the press conference Mr. Xiang Wenbo said that Sany was duty-bound to play a part in the Fukushima disaster control efforts and that the extensive media coverage of Sany’s action had been quite out of his expectation. President Xiang hoped that his company could do more for the Japanese people with the support of Japanese companies.
 
 Sany “just did what it should do as a member of the world business community”
Mr. Xiang spoke highly of the calm and orderly spirit displayed by the Japanese people in the face of a major calamity like the one that took place in early March this year. He also thanked the help given by the Japanese people during the many times when China suffered from natural disasters. In the aftermath of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake in China, a Japanese rescue team reached the epicenter to offer help. President Xiang remarked that, after learning the situation in Fukushima, he knew it was time for the Chinese to reach out a helping hand. After receiving the inquiry about Sany’s truck pumps from TEPCO, Sany immediately decided to donate one of its 62m truck mounted concrete pumps to Fukushima.

President Xiang said that Sany “just did what it should do as a member of the world business community”. “The donation of the concrete pump was a purely humanitarian action. The purpose was to help those suffering from the disaster instead of advertising the product,” commented President Xiang. “Our efforts in Fukushima have made us better known in Japan, but I would rather we became famous in a very different circumstance. However, I will certainly be happy if we can start cooperative partnerships from now on with Japanese companies who have come to know us at this difficult moment,” Mr. Xiang added.

Xiang further stated that there was still great potential for the cooperation between Chinese companies and Japanese companies. However, challenges should not be ignored. “In Japan, we do not see many construction equipments from other countries. Japanese people love their own brands. Statistics show that Japan is one of the countries with the least presence of foreign companies,” he said. “We do not wish to enter the Japanese market ill-prepared. We are doing research about the Japanese market, and we will only bring to that market what the Japanese customers really need.” 

Currently, developing countries are Sany’s major markets
“For now, Sany’s focus is still those countries in the southern hemisphere, especially the developing countries,” said Xiang. “Sany has invested and built manufacturing plants in Brazil and India. In the next two years, more Sany’s factories and service and parts centers will be built around the globe.”
　　
 “By the time of 2015, Sany’s overseas sales will account for 30% of our total sales. That is our goal,” Xiang further stated. “It is the demands of the market that has driven Sany into investing overseas.” According to Mr. Xiang, many developing countries in South America, Southeast Asia, and Africa do not have adequate infrastructure. Due to the rise of oil price, numbers of African countries are getting better off. However, they do not have a mature construction machinery industry of their own to support their infrastructure construction. Machinery brands from China are known for their competitive price and quality service. Chinese heavy machinery brands have taken quite advantageous positions in those countries. (Written by Zhou Na, translated by Zeng Zhengyifu) 
 

President of Sany Heavy Industry Xiang Wenbo taking an interview by journalists from Japanese press

Senior Advisor of Sany Heavy Industry Nobuhiko Oku sending a model concrete pump truck as a gift to Kumi Yamada, a representative of the Japanese press

Executive President of Sany Heavy Industry Yi Xiaogang and the Japanese press