It’s fitting that the recent launch of one of the world’s most cutting-edge TVs took place in an industrial park outside Cape Town. This was no ordinary manufacturing zone, but an advanced 100,000 sq metre Hisense South Africa industrial park that saw the launch of the 110in ULED X and the high-tech U8 range. It was also symbolic of the brand’s stellar rise as an international consumer electronics powerhouse.
Set up in 2013, the site not only manufactures Hisense TVs and refrigerators, exporting as far afield as the UK, it has also had a significant impact on the economic opportunities for the region, from job creation to training courses for local youth. It’s perhaps no coincidence that Hisense is also one of the top-selling TV brands in South Africa.
For Jerry Liu, vice-president of Hisense International, this is the culmination of a concerted, all-round effort to invest in and grow the South African market. “We strongly believe in the power of employing and retaining the best local talent in improving the whole organisation,” says Liu. “For many years we have continuously invested in local executives, experts, to help build a highly localised professional operations team. It has enhanced the Hisense brand affinity locally and helped with rapid and strong growth.”
