US information technology giant IBM will set up its second Asia-Pacific regional offices in Shanghai to better manage its business in the region.

Henry Chow, chairman and chief executive officer of IBM China, said yesterday in Beijing that the new offices will not replace the other offices in Tokyo, but will have different and complementary functions.

IBM, also known as Blue Giant, has not yet decided on the location of the new offices.

The new branch could employ at least 100 people, about the same as at IBM's Tokyo headquarters.

The focus of the new branch is to support IBM software and service businesses in the region.

Chow also outlined IBM China's strategies for 2004, which include the pursuit of fast growth in sales, promoting its business-on-demand services and the improvement of internal structuring.

Chow added that innovation will also be the focus in achieving these goals.

"We aim to grow at the same or higher growth rate as the market and beat competitors," said the IBM chairman.

According to US-based market research agency Gartner, IBM's personal computer business on the Chinese mainland almost doubled the market average with 20.4 percent growth in 2003 and with 4.6 percent of market share.

IBM also overtook the biggest Chinese computer company Legend in notebook computer business and ranked No 1 last year.

The US giant's personal computer unit started a road show on Tuesday in 30 small and medium- sized cities across the country to promote its computers among small and medium-sized enterprises.

The annual IBM Forum will be held in Beijing next month to show the latest products and solutions to the Chinese market by the US information technology giant.

(China Daily February 27, 2004)