Kodak is the leader in helping people take, share, print and view images - for memories, for information, for entertainment. With sales of $13.5 billion in 2004, the company is committed to a digitally oriented growth strategy focused on the following businesses: Health - supplying the medical and dental industries with traditional and digital imaging-information products and services, as well healthcare IT solutions and services; Graphic Communications - offering on-demand color and black and white printing, wide-format inkjet printing, high-speed, high-volume continuous inkjet printing, as well as document scanning, archiving and multi-vendor IT services; Digital & Film Imaging Systems - providing consumers, professionals and cinematographers with digital and traditional products and services; and Display & Components - which designs and manufactures state-of-the-art organic light-emitting diode displays as well as other specialty materials, and delivers imaging sensors to original equipment manufacturers.

Kodak opened its first office in China in 1927 in Shanghai after many decades of successful business.  Since the 1990s', Kodak has invested over $1.3 billion in China to build manufacturing, R&D and distribution capabilities.  Kodak is now operating world-class imaging materials and equipment manufacturing sites in Shanghai, Xiamen and Wuxi.  Kodak is committed to bring world-class technology and management to China, and supply world-class products made in China to the world, fulfilling its mission of "bringing the best of the world to China and the best of China to the world".

In March 1998, Kodak announced a trend setting US$1.2 billion investment to manufacture, distribute and market film, paper and photochemicals in China.  The Product Development Center for Greater Asia Region was set up in Shanghai in the same year.  Xiamen is now home to Kodak's largest film and paper manufacturing facility in Asia.  The unprecedented investment was part of an overall effort by the Chinese government to reform its state-owned enterprises.  This deal is later known as the "Kodak Model". 

Kodak's digital camera operation was begun in Shanghai in 2003.  In a very short period of time, China has become Kodak's largest manufacturing base for consumer digital cameras.  By 2004, Kodak had built the world's largest manufacturing facility for one-time-use cameras in Xiamen.  In April 2004, Kodak's Health Group set up its second global R&D center, as well as its Asian technical support center in Pudong, Shanghai.

Kodak Express, a Kodak-branded retail program, was successfully introduced to China in 1994.  Currently, the retail network has grown to approximately 9,000 outlets in over 700 cities in China and represents a key channel that brings high quality imaging products and services to Chinese consumers.  Kodak provides these independently owned and operated stores with technology, quality monitoring, merchandising display, as well as marketing and training support, thereby improving the overall level of service in the industry.

With its regional headquarters in Shanghai, the company currently has around 28 liaison offices in China and more than 6,000 employees.

Editor: Donald