TCL Operations Polska is playing an increasingly important role in the global supply chain of TCL Corp.

The parent company headquartered in Huizhou, a Pearl River Delta city in Guangdong province, is the world's 25th-largest consumer electronics producer and sixth-largest television maker.

Its facility in Poland is located in the middle of the country about 50 kilometers from the capital Warsaw.

Established with an investment of $66.38 million, construction on the Polish plant began in 1997 and went into operation the following year.

"The investment is an inseparable part of TCL's global strategic development," said Hao Yi, chief sales officer of TCL Multimedia Technology Holdings Ltd.

"As a major production base in Europe, the plant has a special position in the firm's global industrial chain as well as a crucial part of the our strategy in the European market."

According to Hao, Poland's favorable position in Europe makes it possible to deliver products and components to any corner of the continent in a maxium of four days. The plant helps TCL avoid possible trade barriers targeting China-made products while lowering its sales costs in the European market.

The Polish plant also plays an active role in procuring raw materials, deploying production resources and servicing global clients and offering product and technology support to both its own brands and OEM operations.

The TCL plant employs about 600 people, mostly local staff and has five production lines to make LCD and LED color TVs as well as DVD players.

"Despite the big costs primarily due to the cultural differences and unfamiliarity with the local laws in the first few years, TCL Operations Polska has helped us gain valuable experience in the construction and international management of projects outside China," he said. "The plant has set an example for other Chinese firms seeking to invest abroad."