China is offering subsidies to suppliers to promote sales of 150 million energy-saving lighting products by the year 2010.

The goal is to lower power consumption by 29 billion kW hours, lessen carbon dioxide emissions by 29 million tons and lower sulfur dioxide emissions by 290,000 tons annually.

The government is offering a 30 percent subsidy to contracted suppliers on wholesale purchases and a 50 percent subsidy on retail sales.

"We see huge prospects for the green lighting market in China," said Martin Goetzeler, president and CEO of OSRAM.

"We are well positioned to provide innovative, competitive, cost-efficient and energy- efficient lighting products to meet the growing demands in China," Goetzeler said.

Expansion of the Foshan plant will enhance the company's global manufacturing network, Goetzeler said.

Osram has 46 factories in 17 countries.

"As the center of competence in the Asia-Pacific region, Osram China will play an even more important role in our global business," Goetzeler said.

Goetzeler said that energy-saving products will make up 80 percent of all its products within the next 10 years.

Osram has five production sites and five R&D centers in China, and its staff in China outnumbers its staff in any other country.

(China Daily July 20, 2009)