Inima eyes bigger market share
With decades of experience in the water business, Spanish company Inima has high hopes for the expansion of its business in China.
In 2006, Inima reached an agreement with Aqualia, another Spanish water business firm, for the development of the water treatment business in China through a representative office located in Beijing.
"In 2000, we started showing interest in the Chinese market, and during the following five years studied the local water treatment market deeply and set up contacts with local entities and consultant companies. In that period, most of the business opportunities were based on the wastewater treatment sector but no local presence was established," said David Gonzalez, manager of International Department of Inima.
Desalination and wastewater treatment are the company's main activities, in which it has become a pioneer in Spain. It acts in all the stages of the projects it undertakes, including design, technology, construction, financing, operation and maintenance of the plants.
It has 30 years of proven experience in Spain and abroad, and runs more than 200 wastewater treatment plants and more than 25 desalination plants.
During its one-year presence in the Chinese market, Inima has identified great opportunities in desalination and sewage treatment.
"So far, none of the projects of our interest have been awarded in China. At the moment Inima is taking part in the tendering process and negotiations for many projects, paying special attention to those in a more mature phase. In this sense, the wastewater treatment plants projected in Xinjiang, Anhui and Shandong represent our main objectives," said Gonzalez.
"In China, our research and development work is focused on market research, and identifying opportunities and potential partners for our business development," he added.
"At this moment, our consortium has established a solid network in China with clients, partners, government entities, local agents, suppliers, and legal, financial and fiscal consultants."
(China Daily 06/27/2007 page37)
