YKK AP (Suzhou) held a ceremony on December 23 celebrating the completion of its new door and window plant in Suzhou Industrial Park. Yang Zhiping, Deputy Secretary of CPC SIP Working Committee and Director of SIP Administrative Committee, Vice Director Sun Yanyan of SIPAC, Japanese Consul-General Kohara Masahiro in Shanghai, and President Hidemitsu Hori of YKK AP Inc. cut the ribbon at the ceremony.

Founded in March 2002 with registered capital of 82.5 million US dollars, YKK AP (Suzhou) has 1,700 employees and produces door and window components, glass curtain wall, and aluminum alloy doors and windows, with parts, curtain wall, and door & window plants opening in 2004, 2005, and 2006, the company has doubled its sales in four years.

The 20,167-suqare-meter new plant broke ground in September 2013. The production equipment will be moved from old plant to new plant and more efficient production lines will be installed. There will also be a special unit supervising the operation of processing stores so as to secure product quality. The new plant will meet the demand of Japanese and overseas markets and improve the production and supply for Chinese market as well.

In her speech, Sun Yanyan recognized the company's fast growth and its efforts in saving energy, protecting environment, fulfilling its corporate social responsibility, and caring for the staff. "Many Japanese companies followed your steps and opened branches in SIP," she said, "and I want to thank you for your continuous efforts to promote SIP's industrial development, ecological optimization, and social harmony. The government is looking forward to bringing our cooperation with you and other Japanese companies to a new level."

There are at present over 5,000 foreign companies and 350 R&D centers in SIP, including 462 Japanese companies with total registered capital of 3.19 billion US dollars. With thriving emerging industries, increasing innovation capacity, optimized investment environment, and growing talent pool, SIP has become one of the top choices for domestic and foreign companies and entrepreneurs.