"Kodak Shantou operation is doing a good job now." says Mr. Carp, CEO and Chairman of Eastman Kodak Company, in his press conference held yesterday (Nov. 2nd) during ICCFED. He also expresses, if the domestic market demand and exportation increase, Kodak will continue to grow its investment in Guangdong. Shantou operation is now a health-imaging product manufacturing base as well as the company's training center of the region.

Mr. Carp says, one of the prime tasks to improve Guangdong's economy is to continue the infrastructural construction. Besides, to enhance Guangdong's international competitiveness, communication and mutual trust between Guangdong government and foreign big institutions are very important. So this ICCFED, providing a chance for information exchange, is of great importance to the development of Guangdong.

In answering the question how to create an international brand, Mr. Carp expresses, this is a hard task that can't be done quickly. To achieve big success, a company needs to: (1) have high-quality- and-low-cost products, (2) have high advertising budget (Kodak's annual budget on advertisement reaches 150 to 200 million USD) and (3) follow ONE strategy for a long time.

He also articulates at present only 20% household in China owns a camera. As China develops its economy, more and more people will get access to imaging products. China, now the second largest film consuming market for Kodak, will become the largest.

Editor: Wings