The first half of 2009 has proved another bumper period for China CNR Corporation Limited (CNR), a leading manufacturer of railway transport equipment in China. It has seen a huge surge in orders from overseas customers, successfully completed a number of high-profile international projects and made major inroads towards becoming a truly global brand.

In first half of this year alone, CNR signed export contracts worth US$660 million (4.5 billion yuan). This compares with the US$1.1 billion (7.5 billion yuan) worth of contracts signed in the whole of last year, a figure that cemented CNR's market-leading position.

Cui Dianguo, CNR's chairman, was ebullient: "Through technology import, joint venture operations, product exportation and a growing reputation for having both a quality after-sales service and a real rapport with our customer base, CNR has built up a huge number of mutually beneficial business relationships with both international and domestic clients."

In line with the rapid economic growth in many of China's other industrial sectors, CNR's globally-aspirant management committed themselves to developing the business on an international basis.

A clearly delighted Zhao Guangxing, deputy CEO of CNR, said: "Our policy of going global has paid dividends. We have proved that our skills are world-class and that our products can meet the expectations of even the most demanding international clients."

Once assured of its world-class credentials, CNR then began an aggressive marketing campaign that saw it establishing a high-profile presence at a number of international trade fairs and expos.

According to Cao Guobing, general manager of CNR's global business department, it is a policy that has more than paid off: "We are now confident that we can meet the needs of clients in the locomotive and rolling stock industry anywhere in the world."