DNV is aiming to double in size and have 1,000 employees by 2010.
DNV hopes the fast growing Chinese economy and the increasing appreciation of risk management issues among Chinese companies will help the company reach its goal.
“We aim to double in size and have 1,000 employees by 2010 to service our clients and, hopefully, our revenues will increase similarly,” says Bjørn K. Haugland, DNV’s regional manager for Greater China.
DNV has been rapidly expanding in China over recent years. It opened its 31st office in China earlier this year and hired employee number 500 this month.
Haugland said DNV’s business performance in China is already “very good and is growing very fast.”
Among its core operations, the maritime business is surging ahead, offshore activities are growing at a steady pace and the industrial certification business is roaring along at near-breakneck speed.
Last year, DNV’s China operation achieved revenues of RMB 470m, 25% up on 2004 levels, with maritime accounting for 55%, offshore for 15% and other industries representing 30%
“Basically, our business is to manage risk. We do this by certifying the quality and safety of processes and products in the shipping, oil and gas and manufacturing industries,” explains Haugland.
Risk assessment and management are areas he feels will become increasingly significant in China given the tighter industry regulations and the increasing importance of environmental protection and corporate responsibility.
“The environment is changing and there is increasing appreciation and understanding of risk management issues and more and more Chinese companies are coming to us for help,” says Haugland.
“Business is going well, but there is so much more to be done so we are increasing our commitment to China as more and more clients are expanding their businesses in this fast-growing economy,” said Haugland.