RI Builds China Profile

Research International (RI) has bought the majority of shares in South China Market Research (SCMR), its joint venture partner, which has been trading as Research International China since 1997. The current management team will remain in place.

Heather Payne, CEO of RI Asia Pacific, says the acquisition is part of the company's strategy to invest further in China. She adds: 'We have worked successfully in a joint venture partnership with our Chinese colleagues since 1997, and this deal simply strengthens that partnership.'

Integration into the group should bring a number of advantages, according to RI China CEO Chen Jin, including 'closer co-operation, standardised methodologies, improved IT systems, increased spend on R&D, access to proprietary techniques, global knowledge management, and increased staff training.'

SCMR was established in 1990, and became Research International China in a joint venture launched in 1997. It provides a range of qualitative and quantitative research services and fieldwork capabilities, with full-service offices in Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai, and fieldwork offices in Shenyang, Wuhan, and Chengdu.

Research International, which also has offices in Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Taiwan, is online at www.research-int.com.

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.