Michelin Helps Yunnan Improve R & D on Natural Rubber   

By Chen Jinhua    

This July, Michelin (China) Investment Limited signed a three-year co-operative agreement with Yunnan Agricultural Group Limited and Yunnan Tropical Plant Institute to further improve the R & D of natural rubber in Yunnan province, showing its social responsibilities and its commitment to the China market. The agreement aims to leverage Michelin's expertise in cultivating natural rubber and provide Yunnan with free technical support and training programs.
    Michelin's support to rubber cultivation in Yunnan began in 2001, but the first MOU was signed in 2005, and the newly signed agreement is a follow-up to the original memorandum. Taking advantages of the Group's experiences in natural rubber research, Michelin will support Yunnan's research in rubber latex analysis, cultivation of rubber trees and curing plant diseases and provide the opportunities for researchers from Yunnan Tropical Plant Institute to attend training programs in France. The agreement is valid between 2008 and 2010. Different from ordinary business agreements, Michelin's supports to Yunnan are completely free of charge.
   As an environmentally friendly raw material, the natural rubber is mainly from South-east Asia. China is the world's biggest consumer and importer of natural rubber. According to statistical data, in 2004, natural rubber produced locally was only 32% of the total demand in China.
    As a global leader in tires, Michelin Group has highly experiences teams working in the cultivation of natural rubber for decades. Michelin participate to the management of 52 000 hectares of industrial rubber trees plantations and 10 rubber processing factories in Africa and South America, producing 120 000 tons of dry rubber per year. Yunnan and Hainan are China's biggest rubber growing provinces.
   "By signing the agreement, we wish to bring our experiences in natural rubber cultivation and research to China, help the country in its breakthrough development in enhancing the productivity and promote the sustainable development of the society," said Mr. Yves Chapot, Chairman of Michelin (China) Investment Limited.