Changhong appoints Taufik as brand ambassador

JAKARTA - Changhong, one of China's leading electronics manufacturers, officially appointed Indonesian ex-Olympics badminton champion Taufik Hidayat as its brand ambassador for Indonesian market Wednesday, in a bid to further expand local market share.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Washington Feng, President Director of Changhong Indonesia, a local unit of Changhong, said as a great badminton player, Taufik always tries to advance and progress with great effort which has become Changhong's enterprise spirit.

"Changhong is also ready to invest more in Indonesian market and will deepen the cooperation with Taufik in brand promotion." Feng said.

Taufik, 32, said he was grateful to Changhong for its appreciation and intention for cooperation despite he is going to be retired in the middle of 2013.

Taufik, who has won dozens of men's singles championships in international tournaments, plans to retire from his professional career after the Indonesia Open, an annual badminton tournament organized by the Badminton Association of Indonesia which will be held from 11 June to 16 June this year.

Asked about the retired live, Taufik said that he would spend most of his time to develop talented badminton players. "I have launched a public facility called Taufik Hidayat Arena, I wish badminton lovers can play and get trained there," he told reports after the signing ceremony.

"I'm honored and excited to promote China's top brand to Indonesian customers, I wish this cooperation will help Changhong to compete with other electronic producers and improve its market share," Taufik said.

Established in 1958, Changhong is now one of the largest consumer electronic producers in China. The company entered Indonesian market after Asian Financial Crisis and has developed Indonesia as its biggest production base in Southeast Asia.