TOKYO — Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL, President Kunio Suzuki) today announced the opening of the Qingdao Branch of MOL (China) Co. Ltd. (Branch Manager Mizuho Taniguchi) from September 22, 2003.
MOL established a three-year plan for its new China strategy, which began this year and focuses on aggressive expansion of its business in anticipation of new opportunities resulting from China joining the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Upgrading existing representative offices to MOL (China) branch offices is a part of key issues in the first year of the MOL China strategy. Through establishment of an independent organization, MOL intends to expand its sales activities more efficiently and to strengthen its network in China.
Qingdao is the third MOL (China) branch office. The first was in Tianjin, opened in 1996, and the second was in Shenzhen, opened in 2002.
Further, MOL already has government approval to upgrade three (Guangzhou, Xiamen, and Ningbo) of the 18 offices in mainland China to MOL (China) branch offices. All three are making final preparations for their conversion to MOL (China) branch offices in October 2003.
For further information, please contact:
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.
Hiroshi Takei
Manager, Administration Group, Liner Division
Tel: 81-3-3587-7131 / Fax: 81-3-3587-7728
Email: ladmo@mail.mol.co.jp