Shanghai - October 20, 2006
The Dow Chemical Company, a world leader in science and technology, today commenced construction of a new state-of-the-art Dow Center in Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Shanghai. A major milestone for Dow’s development in China, the world-class facility will further strengthen the Company’s capability to offer unique and innovative solutions to meet rapidly evolving customer needs in China and the Asia Pacific area.
The 65,000 square-meter Dow Center will be a major establishment supporting a variety of key functions which include a Research and Development (R&D) facility, a global Information Technology (IT) center, as well as other administrative and support facilities.
“With the New Dow Center Project officially commencing today, we are taking a major, significant step forward in bringing under one roof our best people, best technologies, and best work processes to support our customers in China, across the Asia Pacific region and globally,” said Jim McIlvenny, President of Dow Asia Pacific.
When completed in 2008, the Center will house up to 1,600 employees and will become a major business and innovation hub for Dow in Asia Pacific which will create even more synergy by collaborating with other Dow facilities worldwide.
Said McIlvenny, “As our customers grow, we’ll step up our collaboration through market-driven scientific and technical innovation, enhancing current product platforms and creating the product platforms of the future together. With this new Center, we are even better positioned to meet our customer needs by developing - and delivering - high-performance products and applications tailored for their needs.”
The new R&D facility – to be supported by hundreds of scientists – will include over 60 laboratories dedicated to developing innovative solutions for a wide range of industries vital for human progress such as building and construction, automotive, human health, and personal care.
The new IT Center will provide leading edge technologies – hardware, software and integrated systems – as well as services and work processes to support Dow’s operations in China, Asia Pacific and globally.
With 2005 revenues at US$2.3 billion, Greater China is Dow’s third largest market behind the US and Germany in terms of sales.
About The Dow Chemical Company
Dow is a diversified chemical company that harnesses the power of science and technology to improve living daily. The Company offers a broad range of innovative products and services to customers in more than 175 countries, helping them to provide everything from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products. Built on a commitment to its principles of sustainability, Dow has annual sales of $46 billion and employs 42,000 people worldwide. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted.
For Editorial Information:
Kay Yau
Dow Greater China Media Relations
86 1381-6118-238
Helen He
Burson-Marsteller Beijing
86 10 5816-2617
Helen_He@bj.bm.com
Josephine Pan
Burson-Marsteller Shanghai
86 21 5403-2121 ext. 175
Josephine_Pan@sh.bm.com
