Ma Ke, president of Nokia's newly-established Asia and Pacific business development center, said in Shanghai Wednesday that the center would provide Nokia with a wider channel to cooperate with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Shanghai, so as to meet the Chinese market's needs in a better way.

There was often innovation of new concepts and products in SMEs, said Ma, but they often find it difficult to link the great ideas with the market due to limited implementation and advertising capabilities.

He said the center was to boost the cooperation between giants like Nokia and SMEs by creating a new type of business cooperation mode, which is mutually beneficial.

In virtue of its international fame and comprehensive strength, Nokia is able to help SMEs sell their ideas and products through many projects with investment ranging from US$100,000 to 500,000, said Ma.

Nokia had mainly focused its business on Hong Kong at its early stage in China's market. However, the booming Yangtze Delta Economic Zone centered by Shanghai has attracted the transnational corporations with a good investment environment and market potential in recent years, said Ma.

So far Nokia has established five research institutions and four production bases in China, with over 4,500 staff members.

(Xinhua News Agency July 8, 2004)