David Laurier, CEO of AppliTek in Nazareth, Belgium, was interviewed by the China Daily. He said he was confident that his company can sustain its success in China even though it is a latecomer. The company sells analytical technologies to nearly 120 countries. About 20% of its business comes from China, after only a few years on the Chinese market. Laurier is upbeat about the Chinese market potential. In Europe, he said, the common perception of the Chinese is that they produce inexpensive goods but pollute the water, soil and air. “But if these Europeans were to go there as often as we do in our business, they would see that China is making huge efforts to control pollution,” he said. “I am amazed at just how serious the Chinese government is about providing healthy conditions for its people and a sound environment.” Laurier said he was impressed that the Environmental Monitoring Center in Beijing can monitor nearly all of the major rivers and cities, but in Europe, there is no such integrated system. AppliTek’s sales volume dropped slightly compared with last year, Laurier said, but more projects were clinched. It now has about 20 to 30 small projects. “China’s economy could not be sustained without enough environmental protection policies and measures being put in place,” he said. Laurier is going to create a China task force in the company that can offer strategic solutions for building an environmentally friendly and resource-saving country. The company also intends to set up a service center in Shanghai by the end of this year together with a regional distributor. It currently has one distributor in Shanghai and one in Beijing. So far, the company’s analytical equipment has sold well in China, but it has been more difficult to find buyers for its integrated solutions because of the higher prices and a lack of a business network. AppliTek was set up by Laurier’s parents in 1985 and his father is still the President of the Board, the China Daily wrote.