RAD Data Communications, a well-known Israeli IT company, plans to find a partner in China to set up a manufacturing base.

"Besides manufacturing, we hope our partner can help us do better in marketing, with their better understanding of the Chinese market," said Efraim Wachtel, President and CEO of the company.

China's IT market is getting more and more sophisticated, says Wachtel, adding that customers are now asking for higher quality products and services. RAD now has representatives in Beijing and Shanghai, who help head office export products to China.

RAD is not the sole Israeli IT company planning to tap deeper into China's market. Statistics from the Israeli Embassy in China show that Israel now has more than 70 IT companies with representatives or branches in China. "More are considering doing so," said Wachtel.

For Israeli companies, China was a big market with great potential, Itzhak Shelef, Ambassador of Israel, told a seminar held in Beijing on Thursday. He added that Israeli companies, having a well-trained workforce, advanced technology, flexibility and fast decision-making capability, were willing to tap such a market.

The seminar was co-hosted by China's Ministry of Information Industry and Israel's Ministry of Communication. Israel sent a delegation led by Wachtel of 18 IT companies to China to attend the seminar.

"We brought them to China and hope they cooperate with their Chinese counterparts," said Shelef.

IT has been a major driving force in Israel's economic development. Last year, Israel exported products worth US$330 million to China, including IT products worth US$150 million.

( eastday.com June 21, 2002)