Johnson & Johnson expands ophthalmologic market in China

The Hangzhou manufacturing base of the world's largest health care company, Johnson & Johnson Vision, in Hangzhou Economic and Technological Development Area, Xiasha district, Zhejiang province [Photo/Qianjiang Evening News]

Twenty years ago, the world's largest health care company, Johnson & Johnson, launched its manufacturing line in Hangzhou Economic and Technological Development Area (HEDA), Xiasha district, Zhejiang province.

As the only manufacturing base of Johnson & Johnson in Zhejiang, AMO (Hangzhou) Co Ltd is committed to producing contact lens care solutions and eyedrops which are exported to Europe, the United States and Japan.

"As more and more companies delve into the eye care business, competition in the market becomes increasingly fiercer,” said Zhang Jinbiao, general manager of the Hangzhou company, adding that it is imperative to be innovative and blaze new trails.

Over the years, the company has improved the automation of production lines and expanded production capacities, leading to a greater variety of products.

Talking about settling in Hangzhou, Wang Liping, general manager of J&J Surgical Vision in China, hailed the city as open and diversified.

“Hangzhou is at the forefront of innovation and entrepreneurship, as represented by Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group,” he said, adding that the local government has also created a favorable business environment for foreign-funded companies and issued a series of preferential policies to attract international talents.

Wang said he believes that the diversified population structure in China means increased demand for health care, and the country’s growing competitiveness in hi-tech industries, including artificial intelligence, cloud computing and big data, will boost the transformation and development of the health care industries.

“We place a high value on the Chinese market and will continue to push forward economic and trade cooperation and exchanges between China and the US as well as other countries across the globe,” he said.

With a focus on attracting foreign businesses and investment, HEDA has lured over 780 foreign-funded enterprises from 50 countries and regions. Hangzhou Biopharma Town, an industrial cluster for biopharmaceutical development in HEDA, has attracted more than 300 companies and research institutes in the biopharmaceutical sector with total output reaching 25 billion yuan ($3.6 billion).