China's top software company expands Hong Kong operations

China's top enterprise software applications provider, Kingdee International Software Group Co Ltd, announced today (March 11) the expansion of its Asia-Pacific headquarters in Hong Kong.

The Shenzhen-based company plans to use Hong Kong as its springboard for a major push into the global enterprise software arena and to expand into overseas markets.

As part of the expansion, the company plans to employ about 35 new staff for the Hong Kong office by the end of this year.

"We are excited about our strategic decision to leverage Hong Kong's advantages as a window to the world," said Mr Robert Xu, Chairman and CEO of Kingdee Software International Group.

The company is already the number one provider of enterprise software in China's mid-tier commercial market.

"We are now building on this success," Mr Xu said. "We are developing a strong partner network outside China that will drive our enterprise resource planning, customer relationship management, knowledge management and business performance management software sales -- first into Asia-Pacific, then worldwide. We see the Hong Kong headquarters as a major stepping stone in this strategy."

Kingdee has been operating in Hong Kong since 2001 and was the first Mainland software company to list on Hong Kong's Growth Enterprise Market (GEM). It aims to be a top 10 global enterprise software company by 2010.

"Hong Kong is one of the busiest and most successful cities in the world and has a rich supply of experienced international talent," said Mr Toa Charm, General Manager of Kingdee Asia Pacific.

"The members of my Hong Kong team have had many years of experience working for leading US software vendors. They act as an important bridge between China and the rest of the world."

The Director-General of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong, Mr Mike Rowse, said attracting such a major player with plans to expand its horizons is helping Hong Kong to continue its move up the technology ladder.

"It is a strong endorsement of the role Hong Kong can play as an international business hub for Mainland companies," he said.

Kingdee currently employs more than 2,000 staff in 46 offices, three R&D centres and an outsourcing centre in the Mainland.

Ends/Thursday, March 11, 2004