US conglomerate General Electric (GE) and European information technology service company Atos Origin both plan to use the 2008 Beijing Olympics to strengthen their market presence in China.

As one of the 11 sponsors of the International Olympic Committee's global sponsorship program (TOP), GE believes this will help it build up its brand and sell more products in China, said GE CEO Jeff Immelt.

He made the remarks at the signing ceremony of the partnership between GE and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG).

Immelt said his company will provide a host of products and services including the power generation, medical equipment, plastics, rail systems and water treatment for the 2008 Olympics.

"The sponsorship demonstrates our long-term commitment to China," said Immelt.

GE plans to raise its revenue in China to US$5 billion next year, from the 2003 figure of US$2.6 billion in 2003, said Immelt. It is also expected to increase its sourcing from China to US$5 billion in 2005.

China now has become GE's fastest growing market, with its annual revenue growing annually by more than 20 per cent over the past decade.

GE has already invested US$1.5 billion in China, with its business extending into sectors including aircraft generators, power generators, finance, medical equipment, plastics and television.

Atos Origin, the IOC's worldwide IT TOP partner from 2002 to 2008, said it will also actively participate in the Beijing Olympics and build a long-term partnership with China and Chinese enterprises.

"We hope our role as the sole chief IT system integrator for the Olympics in this period, especially in Beijing, can drive our growth in China," said Ping Lee, president of Atos Origin's North Asia operation.

The firm, Europe's biggest IT service provider, said it would set up a permanent office in Beijing in October to prepare for the 2008 Olympics.

By the time the games open, it will have as many as 450 people working in Beijing with more than 4,000 professionals managing IT systems.

Editor: Donald