Hewlett-Packard chief executive Carly Fiorina, making her first visit to China since assuming the job, has announced HP is to set up a research and development center to help nurture the country’s internet-related industries. Fiorina said Within five years, Asia will represent 23% of global internet usage. In that time, China will catch up with the US and other advanced countries. We want to play an important part in this.
HP’s R&D center will focus on software technology and applications designed for the internet and will make use of ChinaÆs human talent. Discussions are underway with the Ministry of Information Industry and other parties on the precise scope of the center, Fiorina said. She predicts that HP’s sales in China will double within the next five years to more than $2bn.