The outlet in Xinjiang, which accounts for one sixth of China's total territory, showed that Amway was confident of the Xinjiang market. The company was to take Urumqi as the center and expand its business to Ili, Kashi and other parts of Xinjiang, said Zhang Mingde, general manager of Amway northern district.

Amway employed 300 workers in Xinjiang. The number would be increased to 3,000 or 5,000 in two years. The majority would be local residents, Zhang said.

Amway has sub-branches in 80 countries and regions. It has built 58 direct outlets in 26 Chinese provinces and cities since it opened its first base in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, in 1995.

Sui Jiping, vice-mayor of Urumqi, said Amway brought a new pattern of management to Xinjiang and helped people cultivate a new concept of consumption.

(People's Daily September 15, 2002)