NEC consolidates in China

NEC Electronics said it is shifting its employees around in China so it can take advantage of a new license it acquired from the Chinese government to import and sell semiconductor products that are designed and/or made outside of the country. Last June, the Chinese government approved a policy that lets foreign companies apply for licenses to do business inside China. NEC's application was approved Thursday, the company said.

Of the changes to NEC's China divisions, the company said its Beijing NEC IC Design Company will become the flagship site for NEC Electronics in China, and the company will relaunch operations under a new name, NEC Electronics China. The current president, Fumiaki Urase, has agreed to stay on to lead the team. About 60 people from NEC's other development and sales teams are moving into the Beijing office, NEC said. The company added that it will now coordinate its efforts between its Tokyo and Beijing offices to sell more products inside of China.