GUANGZHOU, CHINA, November 19, 2009 — Edward L. Monser, chief operating officer of Emerson, (NYSE: EMR) attended the 2009 International Consultative Conference on the Future Economic Development of Guangdong Province held in Guangzhou. The theme of the conference this year is “Opportunities in the Post-Crisis Era”. Monser delivered a speech on “Promoting Industrial Restructuring through Technologies Innovation”, providing suggestions to the Guangdong government on economic development in the 21st century. Monser has served as one of the economic advisors to the governor of Guangdong province since 2005.
“As one of the first multinational companies to start doing business in China in the late 1970s, Emerson has shown its commitment to the country with our facility investments and technology offerings. After three decades in China, Emerson is more confident than ever that we made the right choice by investing in this country and being a partner in its long-term economic future”, Monser said.
“We appreciate that the Guangdong government has strategies and plans to strengthen key industries in the province. We understand that the government continues to encourage technology innovation and industry investment to sustain long-term economic growth. We look forward to continuing our presence in Guangdong and providing the products and technologies that help business enterprises to grow and prosper.”
Emerson also submitted an advisory report to the conference. The report outlined the opportunities and challenges facing the Guangdong province, and discussed Emerson’s strategic investments in Guangdong. It also recommended that the Guangdong government encourages technology innovation, strengthen cooperation with other Asian countries, enforce higher energy efficiency standards, and continue to invest in education.
Emerson is a global technology and engineering leader, developing and delivering innovative solutions for customers worldwide in commercial, industrial and consumer markets. China is among the fastest-developing regions for Emerson. Since 2002, China has been the second largest market for Emerson next to the US. Emerson’s China business began in the late 1970s with a technology transfer program. Today, Emerson has more than 40 legal entities. Moreover, Emerson has also established more than 10 engineering centers in various locations in China.
Emerson views Guangdong as an important market and operational base in both China and Asia-Pacific. A number of Emerson’s business platforms have significant operations and investment in Shenzhen, Jiangmen, Zhongshan, Luoding of Guangdong Province. The latest investment project, Emerson Network Power (Jiangmen) Co., Ltd., officially opened in 2009, and phase 2 of the project is under way.
The International Consultative Conference on the Future Economic Development of Guangdong, which was first convened in 1999, aims to enhance the cooperation between multinational companies (MNCs), international institutions and the Guangdong government, improving the business environment in Guangdong, and showing the success of Guangdong’s economic development to the outside world. The conference provides an opportunity for the governor’s economic advisors to express their opinions and offer suggestions on Guangdong’s economic development and modernization. Emerson has participated in the consultative conferences for many years.
