Lovol overseas business spurs collaboration

A total of 800 wheat combine harvesters rolled off Lovol Heavy Industry Co Ltd's production line in Shandong province on Wednesday, ready to be exported to Sudan in North Africa.

The overseas government procurement order is reportedly the largest single export delivery of grain harvester machines since 1949.

Lovol forged a strategic partnership with the Sudanese government in 2006. The company has since provided 629 harvesters and 300 high-powered tractors to the African country. The exports were worth $30 million in total.

"Sudan has once again chosen our products, which is proof of its government's and people's faith in our brand," said Chang Jiamao, vice general manager of Lovol.

"With the 800-harvester shipment dispatched, Lovol has gone yet further in its overseas expansion," Chang said.

To better honor the latest order, the company has developed new innovations tailored to Sudan's agricultural development in various regions.

The harvesters developed for Sudan's sandy region use both dry and moisture filter systems to adapt to its sandy tropical desert climate, while those for the country's grassland region feature expanded radiators, which help to improve engines' heat dissipation capacities.

In addition, Lovol sent its service staf to Sudan to provide training to local users before the delivery. Another aftersales service team will be dispatched after the harvesters are shipped to the country.

"We will continue to develop differentiated products with cutting-edge technologies in the future," Chang said.

China is a key trade partner of Sudan, with bilateral agricultural cooperation advancing smoothly in recent years, said Omer Eisa Ahmed, Sudanese ambassador to China.

An international agromachine manufacturer, Lovol meets Sudan's agricultural production demand, as its products are reliable in quality, adaptable to local markets and competitive in price, thus making a great contribution to the country's agricultural modernization, the ambassador said.

During his visit to Sudan in late September, Minister of Agriculture Han Changfu suggested that the two governments provide guidance and service to investors involved in bilateral agricultural cooperation.

As a key part of the China-Sudan comprehensive strategic partnership, the cooperation between the countries will help Sudan to achieve its agricultural growth potential and at the same time facilitate exports of Chinese farm machines, industrial observers said.

With a focus on globalization, Lovol is not only committed to providing technological solutions to the domestic agricultural sector, but is also keen to bring its products to the international market, said Wang Guimin, chairman and general manager of the company.

"As the Belt and Road Initiative is advancing, we will accelerate our pace of going abroad," Wang said.

The initiative, proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2013, refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, and aims to enhance regional cooperation.

"Lovol will forge long-term cooperation with more African countries and boost the growth of their agricultural sectors," Wang said.

"We aspire to set an industrial model for China-made brands and to help to promote Chinese brands' status and influence in the international market,"

Since Lovol started its global expansion in 2005, it has established a reputation in the international market for its high-quality products and sound services.

The company has secured huge orders from countries such as Mongolia, Ukraine, Algeria, Ethiopia and Sri Lanka. Government procurement orders have contributed one third of the company's overseas business.

Behind the influx of overseas orders is Lovol's dynamic innovation system.

Increasing investments in research and development facilities and staf have taken the company to the forefront of the farm machinery field.

After a series of overseas acquisitions of agro-machine manufacturers known for their proprietary technologies in recent years, including Arbos, MaterMacc and Goldoni in Italy, the company is leveraging its global R&D and distribution resources to increase its competitiveness.

To date, Lovol has developed a marketing network comprising more than 300 service outlets, covering 120 countries and regions around the world.

In addition to sales, the outlets also provide aftersales services, component replacements, training to users and information feedback.

zhuanti@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 12/12/2016 page10)