Industry Special: Bayer announces China plan to demonstrate commitment

The Bayer Group had another very good year in China in 2011, with sales reaching nearly 3 billion euros ($ 3.95 billion).

"We expect our business in this market to continue experiencing strong growth in the coming years," Johannes M. Dietsch, president of the Bayer Greater China Group, told a press conference in Beijing on April 19.

"We're aiming to double our China sales to around 6 billion euros by 2015, by aligning our core business with China's crucial needs," Dietsch said.

The press conference also marked the official launch of the Bayer 10-Point Plan, which the company designed to align its products and innovations with China's growing demand for sustainability.

Bayer's roots in China go back as far as 1882 when it provided textile dyes for the China market. This year is the 130th anniversary of Bayer in China, which has grown to include three subgroups - Bayer HealthCare, Bayer CropScience and Bayer MaterialScience.

China is now Bayer's third largest market globally and its No 1 market in the Asia-Pacific region. The China market alone has grown to account for 8 percent of the company's total sales worldwide.

"At Bayer, we believe in 'Science for A Better Life' and are in a position to help the country address its major challenges through our products and innovations," he added.

Bayer's China 10-Point Plan demonstrates the company's understanding of sustainable development and shows just how its products and innovations can help the country face the basic challenges in its ambitious project.

Bayer CropScience supports this progress through its innovations in crop protection and solutions from seed to shelf. It has been actively sharing its experience with local farming communities, enabling farmers to use agro-chemicals in a more professional, environmentally friendly way.

Moreover the company's know-how contributes to improvements in worker safety when handling agro-chemicals.

By using its advances in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, Bayer has been helping China combat a number of illnesses, including diabetes, liver cancer, and hemophilia.

To help China achieve its sustainable development goals during the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015), Bayer Material Science is providing solutions in lightweight mobility, sustainable building and infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Bayer will work closely with local partners to find innovative solutions and cultivate local talent to improve China's innovative capacity all the way through 2020.

zhuanti@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 04/27/2012 page14)