China’s largest product testing firm opens first U.S. office in Georgia

ATLANTA, June 13, 2012 — The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) announced today that Center Testing International (CTI), China's largest product conformity testing organization and a publicly traded company on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, will open its first U.S. office in Atlanta. Georgia was selected from among other competing sites for the company's first U.S. office. 'Dallas and Atlanta both offered an exceptionally pro-business environment and excellent access to our clients across the country; however, our business was met with an incredible welcome in Atlanta,' said Harold Hodder, president of CTI's U.S. operations. 'Our contacts at Georgia Economic Development made it easy for us to meet the right people and quickly get our company located and up and running. We also confirmed that Atlanta offered our company great value for our money as a city with one of the lowest business operating costs in the country.' Headquartered in Shenzhen, CTI operates more than 30 branches in mainland China. Laboratories, technical specialists and auditors are strategically located throughout China to offer significant technical and cost advantages by serving brand names and manufacturers with local expertise. For U. S. companies with operations in China, CTI provides advisory services to managing product life cycle legal compliance risks from market entrance permit, occupational health and safety permit, environmental assessment, labor law requirements, market supervision law requirements, penalty of non-compliance product to product recall requirements. CTI also operates branches in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, the UK, Ireland and North America.   The focus of the new U.S. office will be customer technical support, sales and marketing, and provision of information on product conformity testing requirements and results, as well as product life cycle legal compliance requirements.  Atlanta's strategic location and pool of high-skilled labor will benefit CTI's entrance into the U.S. market. With a large Chinese expatriate community, Atlanta also offers CTI a source of skilled bi-lingual employees. 'This announcement marks another step forward in our strategy to strengthen economic and business ties with China,' said Jorge Fernandez, Vice President of Global Commerce for the Metro Atlanta Chamber (MAC). 'MAC is pleased to partner with the Georgia Department of Economic Development and Georgia Tech to support this project, which grows Atlanta's industry capabilities and adds to our overall economic strength.' 'Georgia is pleased to welcome CTI to the growing community of Chinese companies that have made a home in our state,' said GDEcD Commissioner Chris Cummiskey. 'China is Georgia's number two trading partner, and a critical trade partner with the U.S. With the growing importance of product quality and safety in both countries, we see great potential for growth in this field, so we're delighted to be home to China's leading product testing, inspection, certification, and consulting firm.' About Center Testing International Providing comprehensive services for virtually all types of consumer products, CTI ensures high quality standards to enable companies to market their products worldwide. CTI performs product testing and inspection, management systems certification audits, legal compliance assurance and sustainable performance evaluation in a wide range of industries, including electrical and electronic products, toys, footwear, textiles, leather, automobile components, food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, maritime and hardlines. CTI also specializes in supply base management to ensure quality and efficiency throughout the supply chain. For further information, please contact Harold Hodder, President of CTI U.S. Inc. at 1-866-624-6179. About GDEcD The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is the state's sales and marketing arm, the lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, locating new markets for Georgia products, attracting tourists to Georgia, and promoting the state as a destination for arts events and location for film, music and digital entertainment projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development. www.georgia.org