Avnet Combats Counterfeiting Concerns for Small-to-Medium Sized Manufacturers in China

Distribution giant launches a sales & service counter at Shenzhen’s International Components Center, offering genuine and high-quality components

Shenzhen -- Avnet Electronics Marketing (EM), an operating group of the global technology distributor, Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT), has launched an assault on electronics counterfeiting in China with the opening of a new Sales & Services Counter with a retail business model on Oct 12, 2008, at Shenzhen’s International Components Center (ICC).

Avnet is one of China’s leading electronics component distribution organizations, enjoying a track record serving large and medium-sized manufacturers. With the launch of the new Sales & Service counter at ICC, Avnet will be able to strengthen the support to small-to-medium- sized manufacturers in China with on-site service. Operating at the Transaction Hall of ICC, Avnet Sales & Service Counter is located at D1, tenth floor, Block C, Electronics Science & Technology Building, 2070 Shennan Road Central, Shenzhen.

“As one of the leading electronics component distribution companies, Avnet has always been committed to customer service and quality assurance,” said Stephen Wong, president of Avnet Electronics Marketing, Asia. “We were one of the first supporters of China’s RECS (Reliable Electronic Component Supplier) program which provides certification and authenticates legitimate sales channels and sources for electronics components. The launch of the Avnet Sales & Service Counter at ICC further demonstrates our service commitment, enabling customers, both the large-sized manufacturers who require sample orders and the small and medium businesses, to have secure and constant access to reliable and legitimate products, protecting them from loss from counterfeits.”

Located in Shenzhen’s Hua Qiang Bei district -- the largest electronics market place in Southern China -- the ICC and Avnet’s new Sales & Service Counter are strategically placed to provide maximum support to the industry. More than 100,000 people visit the district daily, of which 30-to-40 percent are component buyers or purchasing managers who spend approximately 30 billion RMB annually. As one of the key functions of China’s RECS program, ICC is the first venue endorsed by the government for trading of electronics components from legitimate sources.

Now, Avnet is expanding its commitment to embrace the thousands of smaller firms who are most affected by poor quality, faulty, counterfeit products that enter the market through illegitimate channels. Avnet’s Sales & Services Counter will offer small quantity orders such as split packs or stock sales, and business will be conducted through the ICC’s regular logistics and payment system.

“We already operate an Avnet E-Shop (http://shops.chinaecnet.com/avnet/indexnew.asp) to fulfill online ordering or small quantity orders - which has proven very popular with smaller businesses. Establishing this Sales & Service Counter at Shenzhen’s ICC -- the first location in China offering a cast iron with guarantee to sell only genuine component products -- is further proof of our commitment to serve small-sized customers and help them grow,” commented Frederick Fu, regional president, Avnet Electronics Marketing China.

Organized by China Center for Information Industry Development (CCID) and China ECNet, the facility enjoys the support of some of China’s most influential industry bodies. Sponsors include China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the Shenzhen Municipal Government and the Shenzhen Fu Tian Government. Other supporters include the China Electronics Purchasing Association (CEPA) and the China Quality Management Association for Electronics Industry (CQAE).

“China’s Electronics industry is a key part of the world’s economic engine that is driving Asia’s prosperity and the global economy. It is critical that government and industry players cooperate together to foster the development of each tier in the manufacturing mix. Initiatives such as the Chinese Government’s RECS scheme and Avnet’s new Sales & Service Counter at the International Components Center in Shenzhen are a very important step in that journey,” said Wayne Chao, Secretary-general, China Electronics Purchasing Association (CEPA).