IN BRIEF (Page 13)

Wheat crop estimates made

China will likely harvest 116.79 million tons of wheat this year, up 1.4 percent from last year, despite earlier concerns over drought damage to the winter crop, according to the latest estimate by an official think tank.

The China National Grain and Oils Information Center revised its figures upward after the National Bureau of Statistics said the winter wheat crop, which accounts for a majority of the wheat harvest, was 2 percent higher than last year at 110.79 million tons.

Citibank opens 'smart' outlet

Citibank (China) Co Ltd opened its first sub-branch in Chengdu, Sichuan province, on Wednesday. The new sub-branch is the city's first smart-banking outlet.

Andrew Au, chief executive officer of Citi China, said: "We have had a branch in Chengdu since 2005, and we are extending our business in one of the key commercial centers of western China through this new consumer outlet."

Retailer to make people change

Consumer electronics retailer Media Markt will change its top executive in China, an insider told China Daily on Wednesday.

Media Markt China confirmed the move when contacted by China Daily, but it declined to discuss the possible impact on its development strategy.

The company opened its first store in November in Shanghai, where it has since added three outlets.

Media Markt is a collaboration between Germany-based electrical goods retail group Media-Saturn and Foxconn Technology Group. It aims to have more than 100 stores nationwide by 2015.

Disaster relief expo sets date

The 2011 Beijing International Disaster Mitigation and Relief Equipment & Technology Expo is to be held from Sept 7 to 9 at the National Agriculture Exhibition Center in Beijing.

Organized by China North Industries Corp and the North International Exhibition Co Ltd, the event will include exhibits on disaster prevention and relief equipment and technology and professional symposiums.

China Daily - Agencies

(China Daily 07/14/2011 page13)