GE Strengthens Presence in China    

GE has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Qingdao city's government on cooperation in the aspects of clean products application, environmental protection and sustainability. The signature ceremony was held in Qingdao, Shandong province in the eastern China on October 23rd. According to the MOU, GE, on the basis of its advanced renewable energy technologies such as cleaning coal, coal gasification, winding power generation, as well as other cleaning technologies - comprehensive utilization of urban water resource, recycle of industrial sewage, sea water desalting, cleaning household appliances, will supply Qingdao city with solution scheme and suggestions for the city's sustainability.
     On October 21st GE affirmed that, amidst global economic turbulence, revenues from its range of energy efficient and environmentally advantageous products and services will surge 21% to US$17 billion in 2008, while GE's annual investment in cleaner research and development will pass US$1.4 billion.
   Jeff Immelt, GE Chairman and CEO announced that the transnational will help build tomorrow's smart energy grid; help drive electric vehicles out of the labs and onto the world's roadways; and work to build advanced, cleaner energy production in the U.S., India, China, and the Middle East at mammoth scale.
    GE Energy's Jenbacher gas engine business announced on October 16th the opening of a new regional engine packaging operation at GE's manufacturing center in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province in southeastern China. The new packaging operation will help support GE Energy's customers in China and Asia that are working to address their urgent energy and environmental challenges.
    It is reported that the Jenbacher Hangzhou Packaging Operation will allow GE Energy to deliver a wider selection of customized, onsite power engineering solutions and faster local customer service. The facility, which currently employs about 50 people, will package about 30 engines in 2008 and plans to complete another 100 units in 2009. The Hangzhou site is GE's second regional engine assembly operation to open since GE acquired the Jenbacher gas engine business in May 2003.